Recall of Zaplan election as president recommended
FEDERATION OF LIGA NG MGA BARANGAY
THE undersecretary for Barangay Affairs of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has recommended that the results of the election of the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB)-Pangasinan Chapter “be revoked/cancelled and/or recalled” due to irregularities in the conduct of the special polls.
Undersecretary Martin Diño wrote in his June 15, 2021 letter addressed to Julie Daquioag, regional director of DILG Region 1: “… it is quite obvious that there’s a willful attempt on the manipulation and improper conduct of the electoral procedure” for the election of Jeanne Jinky Zaplan, LnB president of Sta. Barbara town to be the provincial federation president of LnB- Pangasinan chapter.
On Nov. 5, 2020, LnB -Pangasinan Vice President Edgardo Fontelera representing LnB Dasol town was sworn into office by Diño as acting president by virtue of the Liga Board Resolution appointing him to the said position by succession due to the sudden demise of the late Liga President Jose Peralta Jr.
On Dec. 23, 2020, Fontelera wrote a letter to Diño inquiring about the validity of the special elections conducted on Dec. 9, 2020 at the Provincial Training Center of the Provincial Capitol in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
Thereafter, Diño said an investigation was conducted to scrutinize all the documents and text messages received by Acting President Fontelera on the alleged manipulation of the said special election, among these: Notice of special meeting dated 24 November 2020 using the official mail envelope of the Office of the Governor; Forwarded text messages on the LnB Pangasinan Chapter meeting on 01 December 2020 at 9 a.m. re: Election of Temporary Presiding Officer of the LnB from PB Mimi Sison and request for dissemination of the message from Mina Francisco, Office of the Governor; Board Resolution No. 2020-01 signed by temporary Presiding Officer Richard Palisoc and temporary Liga secretary Mimi Sison for the conduct of special elections, whereas the positions of President and Vice President are vacant; letter request from temporary Presiding Officer Ricard Palisoc addressed to Liga National President Eden Chua-Pineda for the issuance of authority to conduct special elections; Confirmation Letter from the Office of National Liga President Eden Chua-Pineda to call for the special elections of President and Vice President of the Liga ng mga Barangay-Pangasinan chapter; 2nd Endorsement Letter of Authority to conduct special elections for the positions of Liga President and Liga Vice President from the Office of the National Liga President signed by Mel Magat, Political Liaison Officer.
“Upon verification, it was discovered that the pertinent documents were done on an even date on 01 December 2020. Because of this, it is quite obvious that there is a willful attempt on the manipulation and improper conduct of the electoral procedure,“ Diño said.
Diño said that the special election of the Liga ng mga Barangay-Pangasinan Chapter held on 09 December 2020 also did not follow the electoral process, requiring “a representative from the DILG and the National Liga who will supervise the conduct of special election”.
“In view of this, the election of LnB President Jeanne Jinky Zaplan is hereby recommended to be revoked/cancelled and/or recalled because of the above-mentioned irregularities in the conduct of the said special election,” Diño added. (Eva Visperas)
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