Ousted capitol union leader to file protest with CSC

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The former chairman of the employees’ union of the provincial government of Negros Occidental who was ousted from his position said he will file a protest with the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Renelo Lastierre, head of the Capitol’s Security Services Division, said on Sunday that he “will file a protest manifesto with the Civil Service Commission.”

Lastierre earlier said that the process undertaken by his peers in the union to strip him of the chairmanship of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) was “devoid of justice and fair play.”

“Since it is a purely union concern, I will bring this matter to the Civil Service Commission under the Public Sector Labor Management Council or PSLMC, it being the last arbiter of issues concerning Public Sector Unions,” he pointed out.

“The propriety of the process which includes both substantive and procedural process of removal on grounds cited vis-a-vis the interpretation of the PACE Constitution and by Laws. Hence, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental (PGNO), pending the resolution by the PSLMC should refrain from entertaining matters relative thereto otherwise it will now intervene with purely internal union matters. There should be no interference and the PGNO should wait for the CSC Resolution.”

Lastierre was ousted from his post as chairman of PACE last Friday amid the escalating tiff with a top executive of the province.

Nine out of the eleven board of directors of PACE declared all positions from chairman down to sergeant-at-arms vacant.

Ruben Diamante was appointed by majority of the board of directors as chairman in lieu of Lastierre.

Diamante told reporters that majority of the board of directors have lost their trust and confidence in Lastierre.

But he denied that the move was a “coup d’état” against Lastierre.

He cited Article 9 Section 4-5 of their Constitution where the board of directors can call for a special meeting.

Diamante said Lastierre himself called for a meeting of the board but no one reportedly showed up.

“That showed we don’t have trust and confidence in him anymore,” Diamante said.

He also said that their move has nothing to do with the tiff between Lastierre and provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz over the recovery of a bullet in a capitol office.