FORMER ABRA POLL OFFICIAL CRIES FOUL OVER EFFORTS TO DISCREDIT, SHAME HER

August 24, 2024 Headlines

BAGUIO CITY

Former Abra provincial election officer, Lawyer Mae Richelle B. Belmes-Chaudhary, condemned efforts to discredit
her reputation by critics, she claimed, were twisting facts to shame her. This after news came out that Employees of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Abra have sought for her transfer for alleged unprofessional and unethical conduct. The Letter dated May 1, 2024 addressed to Chairman (George Erwin) Garcia is unsigned, uncorroborated and disowned by the ACES President EO Anthony Agudal, Belmes-Chaudhary, who was transferred to Apayao in July this year, insisted.

The supposed letter to Comelec Chairman Garcia indicated that officers and members of the Abra COMELEC
Employees Society (ACES), condemned what they claimed was “the unprofessional, unethical, unjust and
unwarranted actions of (Belmes-Chaudhary) towards employees and election stakeholders in the province.” They further claimed their supervisor is suppressing their freedom to speak.

The employees claimed before Chairman Garcia that they are afraid to speak out of their sentiments and opinions because Belmes-Chaudhary threatened them with failing marks on their individual performance ratings and other retaliatory actions that will affect their security of tenure, their mental health and professional development. They also claimed that the election official directed the disbursement of the funds of ACES for her extravagant and impractical plans even without the approval of the group’s officers.

The group claimed before Chairman Garcia that Belmes Chaudhary also used the food allowances of the employees
for her plans, and further accused her sister, who is the election assistant of La Paz town, benefitted from the
payments for the catering services during their past conferences. They also complained they were subjected to humiliation by Belmes-Chaudhary via yelling and also sarcastic messages in their group chat. The ACES stated that the PES degraded the morale of the employees affecting COMELEC Abra.

But according to Belmes Chaudhary, she filed an administrative case against two Comelec- Abra employees,
Rodrigo V. Basa II and Lorina L. Borillo, for Grave Misconduct, Partisan Political Activities, Disgraceful and Immoral Conduct, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service on January 29, 2024. She added that since the filing of this case, “my witnesses which includes my sister, my security personnel, people close to me, and I had been the subject of political pressure and character demolition”.

News stories that came out, the lady local poll official claimed, “(were) an act to discredit me and to disturb my focus since now I am preparing my position paper.” She added that such administrative case she filed against two Comelec-Abra employees will be submitted for decision. Belmes-Chaudhary vowed, “I am firm with my commitment for democracy and integrity,” insinuating local political pressure is behind such efforts to discredit her.

Artemio A. Dumlao and Zaldy Comanda/ABN