The Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) has purged its former chairman and eight chiefs of hospital from its list of members.
PACE members should be rank and file employees and the nine hold supervisory positions in the provincial government, PACE chairman Ruben Diamante said on Monday, September 4.
Purged from the list was Renelo Lastierre, former chairman and current director of PACE. PACE Resolution 2023-036, Series of 2023, dated September 1 said Lastierre holds the position of Special Operations Officer IV in charge of the supervision of personnel of the Safety and Security Division.
Diamante also cited a Malacañang issued executive order stating that high-level employees whose functions are normally considered as policy-making or managerial or whose duties are highly confidential in nature shall not be eligible to join the organization of rank-and-file government employees.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he believes there is basis for the removal of Lastierre from the PACE. Diamante also pointed out that Lastierre is a Salary Grade 22 employee.
Those promoted to Salary Grade 22 and above will be removed from the list of PACE members who must be purely rank and file, Diamante said.
PACE is updating its membership list, Diamante said.
He said the chiefs of hospital were also removed as PACE members because they now hold managerial positions.
Lastierre said those who hold positions that are salary grade 23 and below are considered rank and filed employees as stated in the PACE Constitution and their Collective Negotiation Agreement.
He called his removal from the PACE “harassment”.
They probably are afraid that he may run for reelection, Lastierre said.
The next PACE election will be in January.*