The human resource (HR) management officer of the provincial government of Negros Occidental has been put under preventive suspension for 60 days after being charged for oppression, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and grave misconduct.

Lawyer Albero Nillas Jr., provincial legal officer, said the suspension order, the formal charge and the investigation report were served to lawyer Annabelle Palic Tuesday afternoon.

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 Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson for alleged acts of oppression, prejudicial to public interest and grave abuse of discretion.

Renelo Lastierre, PACE president, 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.

The PACE in a statement on Wednesday said that it is “thankful to the provincial government of Negros Occidental under the administration of Gov. Lacson for its action to the cause of the employees against Palic.”

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

Palic has not issued a statement at press time.