BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) reminded members to observe proper decorum and ethics required by Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).
In a statement released yesterday morning, PACE president Renelo Lastierre said, “As government servants we are to live a modest life and must serve with utmost diligence and efficiency.”
He added: “As long as we are active employees it is therefore required of us to observe at all times rules and regulations promulgated to promote good governance.”
Lastierre, however, also reminded the provincial government to observe “due process of law in the investigation of employees to give them ample opportunity to defend themselves.”
PACE, while a defender of workers, neither tolerates nor allows employees to abuse but rather encourages them to be efficient partners of the government for public service. As long as we observe the laws we are on the correct track,” he stressed.
PACE released the statement following the suspension of five employees of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) for allegedly making a driver of a provincial government-owned vehicle wait beyond office hours while they had a drinking binge at a restaurant in Victorias City.
Engineers Jimlo Garsula, Ramelo Letran, German Abihay, Resin Palacios, and Maria Luisa Abaño started serving their suspension on Aug. 23.
Garsula, head of the OPA team, faces another charge for allegedly beating Mario Pequit-pequit, the head of the provincial capitol’s cab service.
In their reply to the show cause order, the five employees said they were just invited by friends from Victorias City and that it would be an insult to refuse a “hospitable” invitation./PN
