By Junex Doronio
APPARENTLY FEARING FOR THEIR LIVES, some 2,000 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) teachers accordingly asked the Commission on Elections for them to be excused from performing barangay poll duties in the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
To address this predicament, Commission on Elections (Comelec) -BARMM Director Ray Sumalipao on Thursday, October 19, bared that 2,100 police officers trained for polling precinct duties would replace the teachers during the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
“According to their Magna Carta, serving for poll duties is voluntary. There should be a willingness on the part of the teachers,” Sumalipao noted.
He said these police officers trained for polling precinct duties would replace the 2,100 teachers who refused to perform their usual poll duties.
Sumalipao also disclosed that over half of the teachers, or about 1,100, are from Lanao del Sur, while the rest are from the Maguindanao provinces, Cotabato City, and Basilan.
The Philippine Army (PA) has reportedly deployed more troops to secure Basilan for upcoming elections.
In addition, it was gathered that an augmentation force from Sulu province will be fielded throughout Basilan, long considered a “hotspot” during elections. (ai/mnm)