Cadungog assumes position as Toledo City''s poll officer

Former provincial election officer Edwin Cadungog formally assumed yesterday his new position as Toledo City''s election officer.

Commission on Elections regional director Ray Rene Buac yesterday told reporters that he was already told that Cadungog already reported to work in Toledo City yesterday morning.

As part of the usual procedure, Buac asked Cadungog to submit a certificate of assumption to prove that he already took over his new post. "I remind Cadungog to submit his certificate of assumption."

However, the regional Comelec official clarified that Cadungog was considered absent for two days for failing to report to his new assignment after he received the notice for his transfer to Toledo City.

Based on Buac''s order, Cadungog was supposed to report to his new assignment on Wednesday, but it was only yesterday that he showed up at the Comelec office in Toledo City.

Cadungog replaced former Toledo City election officer Federico Sanchez, who assumed the post of Cebu City election officer for the south district yesterday.

Sanchez replaced Leonil Marco Castillano, who took over Cadungog''s post as the provincial election supervisor. Castillano is also the concurrent regional attorney of Comelec Central Visayas.

"He should have reported to Toledo City after he received the order for his transfer. If you receive the order, you can comply with the order while you question it," Buac said.

Cadungog sent a letter to Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos and Commissioner Resureccion Borra, Comelec in-charge for Central and Western Visayas, questioning his transfer.

He suspected political influence for his transfer because the order came while Abalos was out of the country.

But Buac explained that he was just implementing the April 2 order of Borra to reassign Cadungog, Castillano and Sanchez. He added that it is normal for election officers to be reshuffled before elections.

Buac said he believed in the capability of Cadungog to handle Toledo City, especially now that the political rivalry in the area is getting intense. - Wenna A. Berondo/LPM