GOVERNOR Eugenio Jose Lacson has appointed officers-in-charge (OICs) at the Provincial Budget Office and Mambukal Resort after the suspension of the two department heads Monday.

Lawyer Rayfrando Diaz, provincial administrator, said the governor has appointed effective Tuesday, June 9, Gemma Rosie Flores as OIC of the Provincial Budget Office and Cherryl Decena as OIC Manager of Mambukal Resort.

Flores was a provincial budget officer 4 before her appointment while Decena was a provincial tourism operations officer.

Their appointment came after the suspension of Provincial Budget Officer Jose Percival Salado and Mambukal Resort Manager Ellen Marie Jalandoni on Monday, June 8, after administrative charges were filed against them related to "money matters," Diaz said.

Meanwhile, Ranelo Lastierre, president of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees, said there is no demoralization among provincial government employees after the suspension of the two department heads.

"It's the prerogative of the Executive Branch to discipline its department heads and even rank and files. We have to respect it and just perform our respective obligations," Lastiere said.

He pointed out that department heads are alter egos of the administration and are not members of the rank and file union.

"Even us, rank and file are not exempted from being disciplined by the disciplining authorities," he said.

He emphasized: "as long as due process is observed we have to subject ourselves to the rule of law and just perform our respective duties."