The Negros Occidental Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees elections will be honest, credible and transparent, officials tasked with its conduct assured on Thursday, January 25.
PACE Election Committee chairperson Al Ceralbo and election officer Lucilla Perartilla gave the assurance amid apprehensions raised by three candidates.
The PACE general assembly and tabulation of votes at the Social Hall of provincial Capitol is set on Saturday, January 27.
The union has 2,209 voting members and employees at nine provincial government hospitals who have already voted, Ceralbo said.
Five seats for PACE director are up for grabs.
Candidates Venchito Magalona, Remy Grace Manalo and Raquel Magbanua in a letter to Ceralbo said they were informed that the majority of the designated members of the tabulation team are from the Office of the Provincial Engineer (PEO).
“We firmly believe that this decision from the PACE Election Committee will create doubt among the voting members and is unfair on the part of the other candidates since four of the candidates running for board of directors are from (the) PEO,” they said.
They reiterated their suggestion for the PACE to seek assistance from the Office of the Provincial Accountant to uphold fairness, transparency and integrity of the polls.
They asked for the replacement of the members of the tabulation committee with employees from other offices who are equally capable or even much more qualified.
Two tabulators, Joy May Albaran and Annabelle Demisana, on Thursday wrote Ceralbo that they were withdrawing as tabulators because of the letter addressed to him requesting their replacement.*