CEBU CITY – Dr. Georgina L. Arevalo, a mayoral candidate in Palompon, Leyte, has sought action on repeated complaints and requests for reversal of the alleged dubious appointments of 43 members of the electoral board in the municipality.

AREVALO (FB)
Arevalo sent several letters addressed to municipal election officer Elvisa Tiu last Feb. 25.
No response or action has been taken regarding the complaints as of posting time.
In her letters, Arevalo detailed the nature of the alleged anomalies about several electoral board appointees.
Arevalo said the alleged anomalies fall into three main categories – appointees who are non-teachers, teachers of non-Department of Education institutions, and relatives of officials at the barangays of candidates, including appointees of the dismissed mayor and current mayor.
There are even appointees who are not Palompon voters, she said.
A number of public school teachers have reportedly applied for positions in the electoral board but were not considered.
Tiu said that school district heads of Palompon were not consulted in the selection process.
In the list of 134 members of the electoral board, there were five non-teachers, 10 non-DepEd teachers, and 28 appointees who have familial ties with barangay or municipal officials and even relations with candidates for the elections.
According to Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act, the positions of chairperson and members of the electoral board may only be filled by non-public school teachers only when there is a lack of public school teachers willing, available, and qualified to serve.
Furthermore, any other registered voter of the municipality could perform election service provided the person is not connected to any candidate or political party.