PAITA CLARIFIES REPORTS ON PEC MEMBER’S TRAVEL AND APPOINMENT OF PA PHILEMON
By BRADLEY MARIORI
Governor Paita has clarified reports about a gathering involving some PEC members in Port Moresby prior to the PEC meeting to appoint an acting Provincial Administrator.
He said there was no meeting in Port Moresby to discuss, negotiate or determine who would become Acting Provincial Administrator, Emma Philemon as speculated through social media.
“I was invited in my capacity as Leader of Our Pati by Richard Maru, MP, Leader of the National Unity Party, to attend his party’s fundraising dinner. Our Pati purchased a table to support the fundraising event,” Governor Paita said.
He said he extended invitations to five PEC members, two appointed representatives, four LLG Presidents from Morobe who are non-PEC members, and the Morobe Branch President of Our Pati to attend the dinner.
“Their attendance was to support the fundraising occasion… It was not a PEC meeting, nor was it a meeting convened to determine the appointment of the Acting Provincial Administrator,” Governor Paita said.
“The first and only occasion on which I formally presented the three PSC-endorsed candidates to PEC members for a decision was during yesterday’s properly convened PEC meeting. At that meeting, I did not advocate for any particular candidate.”
The Morobe Provincial Executive Council (PEC) has recommended Emma Philemon for appointment as Acting Provincial Administrator following a democratic secret ballot conducted on Monday, 3rd November 2026.
According to Paita, the PSC endorsed three qualified candidates; Miring Singilong – Deputy Provincial Administrator, Governance and Corporate Services; Emma Philemon – Principal Legal Officer, Morobe Provincial Administration and Robin Bazzanuc – Deputy Provincial Administrator, Social Services.
The PSC confirmed that all three candidates were equally qualified and eligible for a three-month acting appointment, pending the substantive appointment.
Governor Paita said PEC members acknowledged that all three candidates were qualified public servants and all Morobeans.
Given that, members agreed the fairest way to determine the Council’s recommendation was through a secret ballot.
“As Governor and Chairman of PEC, I allowed this method of voting because I believed it was important to protect the independence of each member’s decision,” Governor Paita said.
“All three candidates were equally qualified, and I did not want any leader to feel pressured or influenced. My responsibility was not to decide for the PEC members, but to provide a fair and transparent process.”
Governor Paita said votes were counted openly before the Council, and Philemon received the highest number of votes.
“Accordingly, the PEC resolved to recommend Ms. Emma Philemon for appointment as Acting Provincial Administrator for a period of three months, pending the recruitment and appointment of a permanent Provincial Administrator. This was a collective decision of the PEC, reached through a democratic voting process,” he said.
ENDS//
