Capitol employees sue ex-human resource head

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The group of Capitol employees of Negros Occidental filed administrative complaints against former Provincial Human Resource Management Officer Annabelle Palic for alleged oppression prejudicial to public interest and grave abuse of discretion.

The Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) filed the case with the office of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson after its board of directors unanimously approved the move.

694 capitol employees signed the resolution endorsing the filing of the case against Palic who is now assigned to Lacson’s office after removing her as HR office head early this year.

PACE president Rene Lastierre said the charges stemmed from accusations of some aggrieved Capitol employees, including those who already retired, against Palic.

“We believe that her continued existence in the provincial government will be prejudicial to the interest of the Provincial Government, and will do more harm to the administration of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson,” Lastierre said.

Lastierre said the employees executed sworn statements alleging that they were deprived of leave credits amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while retirees encountered difficulties in accessing their documents, which constitutes oppression.

In their signed resolution, PACE members claimed that “the character and attitude of Palic is never fit to be part of public service, or as a public servant.”

They said that Palic never had the heart and compassion for workers of the province.

“She had continuously displayed such arrogance to workers’ plight, that affects the productivity and working environment in the provincial government,” the resolution read.

Palic could not be reached for comment.