Abra Comelec employees seek transfer of chief

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Employees of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Abra are asking for the transfer of their provincial election supervisor for alleged unprofessional and unethical conduct.

In their letter to Comelec Chairman George Garcia, the officers and members of Abra Comelec Employees Society (ACES) condemned the “unprofessional, unethical, unjust and unwarranted actions of lawyer Mae Richelle Belmes-Chaudhary toward employees and election stakeholders in the province.”

“We humbly request your good office for the immediate reassignment/transfer of Belmes-Chaudhary outside the province of Abra,” the letter declared.

The group claimed Chaudhary suppressed their freedom to speak as she threatened them with retaliatory actions, including failing marks on their individual performance ratings, and disbursed ACES funds without the approval of group officers. They decried her use of employees’ food allowances in past conferences, and her sarcastic language in their group chat.

Torres could not be immediately reached for comment.

The Comelec national office referred the complaint to Julius Torres, the poll body’s Cordillera regional director.