Consulate calls for ‘clean, transparent’ PIDCI elections; urges naming 2 independent individuals to assist in process

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The official candidates to the Oct 6 PIDCI elections.

A little more than a week before the PIDCI elections on October 6, Consul General Claro Cristóbal has requested the controversial organization to include two independent individuals to its Election Committee and the Membership Committee to ensure a “clean and transparent” election.

The proposal to include two individuals came from Lara Gregory, lawyer for petitioners Juliet Payabyab and Nieva Burdick who brought a case again the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. alleging lack of transparency and fiduciary responsibility in the conduct of its activities.

Although the case was dismissed in June by Judge Barbara Jaffe of the New York State Supreme Court, the petitioners and some members of the community maintain PIDCI has not reformed its election process, calling attention to the disputable practice of proxy voting.

In a letter dated September 21, Gregory said, “The appointment of additional two individuals of known probity and independence, acceptable to both parties will go a long way in building confidence in the process and avoiding further litigation.”

She said further, “This is consistent with PIDCI By-Laws which indicate on Section 2 of Article VIII that, there should be at least two (2) additional members to the Election Committee and the Membership Committee which are both PIDCI standing committees.”

Ronie Mataquel, chairman of the Membership Committee, was bodily ejected in the highly contested 2017 elections. The NYPD was called. Photo: TFC’s Balitang America.

In his response, dated September 27, Cristobal endorsed Gregory’s proposal.

In his letter to PIDCI President Antero Martinez, the Consul General said, “I have noted the suggestions contained in the letter (of Ms. Lara Gregory, Esq.), and they appear to be reasonable, doable, and well within the bylaws of the PIDCI. They are also in the same vein as the suggestions I made during the meeting we had early last month.”

The letter continued, “I strongly suggest that you and the Board consider the suggestions thoughtfully, with a view to implementing them. I know that PIDCI will do its best to insure a controversy-free election this year…An early reply to this letter would be greatly appreciated.”

Copied in Cristobal’s letter are PIDCI lawyer Manny Quintal, Esq.; Matteo Reyes, chair of the Membership Committee; and Rely Manacay, chair of the Election Committee.

Meantime, the PIDCI elections for President and Board of Directors are scheduled at Dahon, 43-10 52nd St., Woodside on October 6, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The PIDCI Committee on Elections 2018 headed by Vice President Rely Manacay — with committee members, Secretary Joycelyn Aligarbes and BOD Sofia Abad — have reviewed the Certificates of Candidacy and announced the following candidates: Antero “Ner” Martinez for President, and the seven candidates who are vying for seven seats are: Dora Koltsidis, Erlinda Limcaco, Buenafe Manongdo, Margarita Wisotski, Myrna Young, Ben Vierneza, and Allan Rico Viray. PIDCI is the organization that executes and presents the annual commemoration of Philippine Independence in New York, touted as the biggest celebration outside of the Philippines.

Four individuals who have sent their certificates of candidacy have been disqualified supposedly for “acts detrimental to PIDCI.” They are Nieva Burdick of the Philippine Center Services for Aging, Ronie Mataquel of the Uniffied teachers group, Fernando Mendez of Fiesta In America, and Juliet Payabyab of United Mindoro International; they are largely regarded as opponents of the current PIDCI leadership because two of them have filed the lawsuit. Another candidate applicant, Aida Gamolo of Jesus thru Many Ministries, was similarly removed because she did not indicate what position she was running for.

Mataquel denounced the disqualification “an act of harassment – biased and unfair.”

© The FilAm 2018