“IT IS legal.”This was stressed by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson Wednesday, April 21, 2022, pertaining to their decision to transfer Provincial Planning and Development Officer (PPDO) Ma. Lina Sanogal to his office to attend to special concerns.Lacson said the transfer of government employees does not violate the election-banning rules.”What is surprising is (that she) had a lengthy talk with Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II about the matter and she (Sanogal) turned around and (instead) filed the complaint against us,” the governor said.Sanogal filed a complaint against Lacson and Diaz before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for alleged violation of the Omnibus Election Code.The complaint was filed before the Comelec Law Department on April 5 while separate complaints were also lodged against the two officials before the Civil Service Commission (CSC) on April 1, 2022.Lacson said they have not received any letter from the CSC nor the Comelec pertaining to the complaints.On November 15, 2021, Sanogal informed the governor through Diaz that she and several other personnel from the PPDO are set to retire this year.Sanogal, who is to retire in October this year, also requested a 2022 budget allocation equivalent to their respective Terminal Leave Benefits.Lacson noted that Diaz and Sanogal discussed the early start of the transition in preparation for her retirement and to reassign her to the governor’s office.As this developed, Lacson also wrote a letter to Comelec-Western Visayas Regional Director Wilfredo Jay Balisado on March 15, 2022, requesting the grant of continuing authority to the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental to transfer its officers or employees while the election period is on.The move is in compliance with Section 29 of the Comelec Resolution No. 10742.Balisado granted the application for exemption from the prohibition on the transfer and movement of personnel sought by the provincial government.He, however, said the request will not involve promotion or the giving of any increase in salary or remuneration or privilege during the prohibitive period before the May 9, 2022 elections.Doing the same is prohibited under Comelec rules, Balisado also said, adding that the authorization shall be prospective in application and without prejudice to the applicable Civil Service Law, rules and regulations on personnel actions/ movements.