By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) head of the provincial government of Negros Occidental has been put under preventive suspension for 60 days after being formally charged for oppression, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and grave misconduct.

Atty. Alberto Nillas Jr., provincial legal officer, said the suspension order, formal charge and investigation report were served to Atty. Anabelle Palic Tuesday afternoon.

Nillas said Palic chose between a formal investigation hearing or submitting a position paper.

The suspension comes after the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) filed a formal administrative complaint against Palic on July 6 before the office of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson for alleged acts of oppression, prejudicial to public interest and grave abuse of discretion.

PACE president Renelo Lastierre said the filing of complaints against Palic was made after the Union’s Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution, which is also supplemented by the petition signed by 694 employees of the provincial government.

Lastierre said the complaint stemmed from accusations of some aggrieved capitol employees, including those who already retired from government service, against her.

Palic has been reassigned to the Negros First Cyber Centre since last year.

The PACE in a statement said that they are thankful to the provincial government under the administration of the governor for its action to the cause of the employees against Palic.

“The pro-worker gesture of PGNO will always be a landmark in the heart of every worker in the defense of their rights and benefits” the Capitol union said.

Meanwhile, Palic has not issued a statement as of press time./DGB, WDJ