• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A security official of the Negros Occidental provincial government cried foul over the statements of Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, which he believes “seems to prejudge the Safety and Security Department (SSD) as guilty, imputing conspiracy,” on the discovery of bullets at the Food Terminal Market of Occidental Negros, which is managed by the provincial government.
In a statement, SSD head Renelo Lastierre said “such actions and statements of accusations against me, and the dismissed watchmen, without waiting for the conclusive evidence, and the result of Gov. (Eugenio Jose) Lacson decision for police investigations to be finished, are manifestations of an unfair and biased actuations.”
An atmosphere of fear, after a series of dismissals and accusations, left and right among employees, may be felt, in the guise of disciplining employees, Lastierre claimed.
He further claimed that the Capitol workforce “now fears to speak of what is really happening around because they may lose their employment and their family will suffer.”
Lastierre had earlier alleged that the owner of the bullets discovered at the stairs of the FTMON on July 3, who surfaced and claimed its ownership, is a member of a military intelligence unit, and declared the incident as “case closed.”
It was found out later by Diaz that the person in question turned out to be a Job Order employee assigned at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
Diaz said he believes that the placing of the two bullets was intentional, to coincide with the renewal of contracts of Job Order and Contract of Service employees.
Three days after the incident, Lastierre said he was stripped by Atty. Diaz of his supervision over the “blue guards,” while service firearms and vehicles issued to him, which he says are needed in SSD operations, were recalled.
He also said there were suggestions for him to go on indefinite leave as president of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees, as the possibility was raised that it may have an effect to the forging of Collective Negotiation Agreement between Capitol employees and the provincial government for 2023 to 2026, which has not been acted on, as of this time.
Calling it the last bastion of Capitol employees defense, Lastierre said he told the PACE board of directors that it should not be undermined and terrorized by the situation, it being separate and distinct from his official duty with the provincial government.
In behalf of Capitol employees, Lastierre said he is appealing for protection from Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Meanwhile, Lacson yesterday described the perceived friction between Atty. Diaz and Lastierre as mere perception, maintaining that there is no conflict between the two Capitol officials.
As to the benefits of provincial government employees, Lacson said they never failed to provide it. “We did not need the PACE to remind us,” he stressed, adding “we always look after the welfare of all government employees, whether you are member of the union, or not.”
Asked if there is a show cause order issued to Lastierre, Lacson replied “none,” noting that Lastierre has not even been the subject of an investigation.
Lacson however wants deeper investigation into the JO employee who claimed to be the owner of the bullets, to verify if he is indeed an “intel operative,” and a licensed gun holder.
He added that he will ask the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office to conduct the investigation.*
