THIRTY-TWO election officers in Pangasinan are being reshuffled, mostly because they had been staying in their present areas of assignment for more than four years already.

Provincial Election Supervisor Reddy Balarbar said 28 of these election officers have stayed in their present areas of assignment for more than four years and therefore due for re-assignment even for a temporary period.

The reshuffle already started after the Holy Week and is continuing, he said.

Balarbar explained the reshuffle was provided for in Section 44 of Republic Act 8189 which states that if an election officer had been more than four years in his or her area of assignment he or she can be reassigned to another place just for the purpose of the election.

“We cannot do anything, it is just that this is provided for by law,” Balarbar explained.

Four of those reshuffled, Balarbar said, have relatives running for elective positions in their present areas of assignment and are supposed to be given re-assignment to remove suspicion he or she is favoring relatives.

He clarified however that all those to be re-assigned can go back to their original places of assignment after the elections.

He said some of those affected by the reshuffle have already reported to their respective new assignments. Others are still preparing to turn over their posts to their successors before leaving for their next assignment. (PNA)