- MITCH M. LIPA
Sipalay City Election Officer Adrian Arellano has been designated as acting election officer of Bacolod City from Sept. 21 to 25, as per the directive of Commission on Elections 6 regional director Wilfred Jay Balisado.
Arellano replaced lawyer Fatima Aspan, who will return to her post as Provincial Election Officer of Negros Occidental.
However, Aspan said she will still monitor the activities of the Bacolod poll office since it is under the supervision of the provincial Comelec.
On Sept. 14, Aspan was ordered by Balisado to temporarily take charge of the Bacolod Comelec office after 13 of its personnel, including election officer Kathrina Trinio-Caña, were exposed to a COVID-19 positive and have to complete the mandatory quarantine period.
Caña, in an interview with NEGROS NOW DAILY, said she and her staff tested negative for the virus and will resume their duties on Sept. 27. She said Arellano’s designation as acting EO of Bacolod is only until Sept. 25.
On Sept. 19, City Mayor Evelio Leonardia called on Aspan to inhibit as Bacolod poll officer “to preserve the integrity of the ongoing voter’s registration”.
Leonardia expressed his alarm over what he noted as sudden and extremely unusual influx of transferee-registrants from out-of-town areas at the Bacolod Comelec office while Aspan was the acting EO.
He said that among the transferee-registrants were those from the areas previously served by mayoralty aspirant and former Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Alfredo Benitez.
“It is a well-known fact that Aspan had served as election officer of Victorias City, which belongs to the province’s Third District,” Leonardia said.
Meanwhile, Hinobaan Election Officer Arlene Tia will temporarily replace Arellano in Sipalay, while Leynor Layda has been designated as deputy election officer of Hinobaan. – MML
