Probe ordered vs ‘insubordinate’ Masbate election officer

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday ordered an investigation against Aroroy, Masbate Election Officer (EO) Magdie Moran for failing to implement the order to remove the name of a candidate for barangay chairman in Barangay Cabas-an during the last Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

In its Minute Resolution No. 23-0817, the Comelec en Banc ordered the conduct of an administrative probe against Moran for failing to remove the name of candidate Aniano Pancho Capinig from the list of candidates as ordered by the Comelec Law Department.

“The Commission resolves to adopt the recommendation of the Law Department (that) an administrative investigation be conducted against the election officer of Aroroy, Masbate for her failure to delete/remove/cancel the name of Aniano Pancho Capinig in the Certified List of Candidates pursuant to Minute Resolution No. 23-0735,” said the Comelec.

According to Comelec chairman George Garcia, the poll body’s Personnel Department shall handle the probe against Moran.

“(It can lead to) removal from office due to gross insubordination,” said Garcia in a separate message.

The probe was ordered after the Comelec received reports that the name of Capinig was not deteted/removed/cancelled from the Certified List of Candidates.

Instead, Moran supposedly merely suspended his proclamation, thereby resulting to Capinig still being voted for barangay chairman in Barangay Cabas-an during the October 30 polls.

“EO Moran failed to implement the Resolution of the commission En Banc and merely suspended the proclamation of Mr. Capinig despite having enough time to delete/remove/cancel his name in the Certified List of Candidates,” said Comelec – Law Department Director Maria Norina Casingal.

The Comelec “administratively cancelled” the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of Capinig as early as October 25 following the decision of Branch 47 of the Masbate City Regional Trial Court convicting him for illegal possession of firearms.

With his COC cancelled, the Comelec en banc said all votes he was able to receive during the polls are now considered as “stray votes”.

It said the second placed candidate during the BSKE should now be