Benguet school execs ordered charged for election offense

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the filing of criminal charges against the president and vice president of the Benguet State University (BSU) for allegedly committing an election offense.

In a resolution dated Nov. 4, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brilliantes ordered Ben Ladilad and Luciana Villanueva, BSU president and vice president, respectively, charged for allegedly violating the law against the transfer, hiring, promotion and assignment of public servants during election season.

If found guilty, the respondents may be imprisoned for not less than one year but not more than six months.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed in March 2013 by Grace Bandoy, head of a local election watchdog in Baguio City and La Trinidad.

Bandoy said Ladilad ordered Gretchen Ablaza, graduate school administrative aide, transferred to the Office of the Vice President for Research and Extention headed by Villanueva.

Ablaza had just returned from a five-month study leave when she was transferred to Villanueva’s office.

The Comelec said Ladilad and Villanueva failed to ask the poll body’s permission before they transferred Ablaza during the campaign period.