Regarding internal polls Magpale refutes accusations of former RBCC president

CEBU, Philippines - Regional Blood Coordinating Council Inc. (RBCC) president and chairwoman Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale refuted the allegations made by Ramon B. Ceniza through a letter addressed to Department of Health Regional Director Dr. Susana Madarieta dated April 15 regarding their general meeting and election.

Magpale clarified the three issues that Ceniza raised on the issues on the illegality of RBCC’s election/general meeting, quorum and the issue of notice of meeting by the RBCC board secretary.

On the claim of Ceniza regarding the March 30 general membership meeting/election was “illegal” Magpale said that the claim was wrong.

Although she admitted that Sec 1, Art. IV of RBCC “vests upon the president the power to preside in all meetings of the Board of Trustees and those of the members of the association,” there is also an equally applicable provision in such same by-laws stating that “special meetings may be called as the need thereof arises, by the Board of Trustees or the President or upon petition of 1/3 of the general membership.”

On the second issue that they had “no quorum” as only 12 out of the alleged 31 RBCC members attended, Magpale said that Ceniza failed to note that the present 31 RBCC members were not the total number of members recognized by the SEC.

“The original composition of 15 members is the the only number recognized by the SEC, owing to the failure of the RBCC to render an annualized report as required by the SEC. Given that a majority only requires half plus one of the total membership of 15, the attendance of 12 members during the general membership meeting was more than sufficient to constitute a quorum,” Magpale said.

On the assertion of the general membership meeting having been not called and assembled upon those that are prescribed in Sec. 3, Art IV of the RBCC by-laws, she reiterated those that are contained in Sec 2, Par. 2 of RBCC by-laws.

“It must be emphasized that the general membership meting was called for and assembled upon request of the majority of the BOT and the members after the discovery of an alleged malversation of RBCC funds by a former RBCC bookkeeper, and the refusal or neglect of the President to file the necessary and appropriate charges against said bookkeeper,”she explained.

Magpale also added that the fourth issue raised by Ceniza is more of an illusion that greed for power is the cause of the alleged re-organization of RBCC.

“I don’t wish to dignify his illusion, and suffice it to say that my election as president of RBCC during that general membership/election was not motivated by politics. Rather, it was a product of the will of the RBCC-BOT and members who have long wanted to set things right as far as the proper management and operation of RBCC is concerned,” Magpale said. — Johanna T. Natavio and Sarah Jane A. Nengasca (THE FREEMAN)