Hundreds of workers from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) stormed out of their offices in disgust Thursday morning following news that Malacañang had revoked the appointment of its director general, former Youth Assemblyman Rogelio “Roger” Peyuan of Cavite.

Before noon last Thursday, agency directors, administrators and union members gathered to picket in front of the TESDA Women’s Center, which sat right across the TESDA main building that they abandoned some three hours earlier.

The demonstration, which involved barricading all but one gate of the TESDA compound located on East Service Road, South Superhighway, Taguig City, was made to sympathize with Peyuan who had reportedly been dislodged from his new post quite unceremoniously.

“President Arroyo is recalling her appointment of new TESDA Director General Rogelio Peyuan,” declared the displeased workers through a statement.

It was only last week when the Palace announced the new appointees in Cabinet positions, including Peyuan who was named as the replacement of Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco Jr. Syjuco, who is running for congressman in the 2nd District of Iloilo.

Ironically, news of the revocation surfaced during Peyuan’s own “appointment party” Wednesday night at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati City, making it all the more shocking to those in attendance.

There is as yet no announcement from the Palace about the unseating of Peyuan or that of a successor to the TESDA chief.

But sources close to Peyuan that also attended the party said some Cabinet members have already confirmed Arroyo’s volte-face.

Syjuco, the same sources said, had fed malicious information to the President that TESDA funds will be used to bankroll the senatorial campaign of Governor Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.

“(That’s) a blatant lie,” Peyuan said of the allegations of backing Marcos’ electoral bid.

Peyuan, who served as Syjuco’s deputy during the latter’s tenure as TESDA director general, is a President Ferdinand Marcos-era solon.

Meanwhile, the protestors called to mind that as chief implementer of the Pangulong Gloria Scholarships (PGS) over the last two years, Peyuan has not been tainted with accusations of graft or irregularities in the dispensation of funds.

On the contrary, it was the programs and procurements directly handled by the Office of then-secretary Syjuco which had been the subject of Ombudsman investigations and massive criticism by lawmakers and the media, the disgruntled TESDA workers said.