• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Atty. Anabelle Palic, former head of the Negros Occidental provincial government Human Resource Management Office (HRMO), was dismissed from government service, as confirmed on Tuesday by Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr.
Nellas said the provincial government found Atty. Palic administratively liable for grave misconduct, oppression, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and being notoriously undesirable, based on evidence records.
He, however, said that Atty. Palic already filed her motion for reconsideration, which is currently pending before the Provincial Legal Office.
The case stemmed from a joint complaint filed by numerous Job Order employees, retirees, and an employee, who were allegedly oppressed.
“After administrative hearings, we were able to come up with a recommendation to the disciplining authority that she should be held administratively liable and be dismissed from the service,” Nellas said.
The dismissal of Palic, as recommended by the PLO, was approved by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, as the disciplining authority.
As of yesterday, she cannot be reached for comment.
Based on the evidence, as far as Job Order workers are concerned, they were required to meet other requirements pertaining to their salaries, while the retirees complained of not being given their clearance immediately, and an employee accused Atty. Palic of not recognizing his filed leave during the pandemic, Nellas further said.
While the investigations of complaints were being conducted by PLO, Atty. Palic was stripped of her position as HRMO head, reassigned and designated as one of the focal persons in managing the Negros Cyber Center, until a decision was rendered on her case.
Nellas said they will resolve the motion of reconsideration within the prescribed reglementary period, which either re-affirmed or overturned their findings. In the case it will be reaffirmed, she has the right to make an appeal before the Civil Service Commission, he added.
Her dismissal from government service also carries accessory penalties, including forfeiture of benefits, among others, he added.*
