SEC asked to intervene in tomorrow’s PRSP elections

An overwhelming majority of former presidents of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) aired their concern yesterday over the "arbitrary acts of the PRSP officer-in-charge, who has refused to open the books of the organization and systematically and unilaterally disqualified many organization members on the eve of the PRSP elections."

Former PRSP president Honesto Isleta said he is responding to calls of many association members "who have been barred from renewing their membership even if they were ready to pay their annual dues," Isleta’s statement also took off from a complaint/request filed by concerned PRSP members with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to assign a SEC official to observe tomorrow’s polls expected to generate a lot of fireworks.

Isleta noted that the PRSP secretariat, temporarily headed by Armando Manaloto as office-in-charge "has been suspiciously refusing to receive requests for renewals of membership even from former PRSP presidents, PR Congress chairman and Anvil Awards chairmen. On the other hand, new members have been hastily inducted without the benefit of public participation of all the members in a general membership meeting.

Elections for a new set of officers in PRSP are set for tomorrow, Jan. 9. More former PRSP presidents have joined Isleta in airing their concern over the recent development at the largest organization of PR professionals in the country, among them Charlie Agatep, Melvyn Martin, Roel Ramirez, Bert Pasquin, Sonny Valencia, Oscar Villadolid, Elpi Cuna, George Balagtas and Virgilio Pantaleon.

Manaloto, who was reportedly handpicked by incumbent PRSP president Winston Marbella, has also refused to open the books of the organization. A cursory check by PRSP adviser Roel Ramirez and former board member Chupsie Medina reportedly invited the ire of Manaloto who told the lobby guard to escort the two PRSP officials out of the office. Manaloto even reportedly filed a suit against the two for "grave coercion."

This is the first time in the history of PRSP that an officer is refusing to receive membership dues meant for this membership organization, said Amylyn de Quiros, whose check was returned ostensibly because it was late.

Moves were also afoot to ask election committee chairman Pete Padre to examine all the proxies which have been cornered by a handful of people who wanted to ensure the re-election of Marbella. Front-running contender Jones Campos, last year’s PR Congress chairman, was also unceremoniously maligned in a circular sent by Manaloto to PRSP members.

The former presidents are also poised to question the appointment of Manaloto who has been advising Marbella not to call membership meetings, make on the spot induction of new members, and refuses to submit the complete financial statements of the latest PR Congress to the Congress chair.