By Junex Doronio
RECEIVING COMPLAINTS THAT SOME LOCAL OFFICIALS were meddling in the recently-concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia on Sunday disclosed that those involved will be facing charges of election offenses.
Garcia said the Comelec will come up with a list of these erring government officials by Monday, November 6.
“Ako’y nagpatawag ng isang pagpupulong kung saan ipa-finalize namin ‘yung listahan na sa aming palagay ay nakialam sa ating halalan. Kinakailangan naming seryosohin ang bagay na ‘yan lalong lalo na maaaring maulit muli sa mga susunod na halalan,” the poll body chief bared in his interview with Super Radyo dzBB.
He noted that the Comelec received more than 10 complaints against local government officials interfering with the BSKE last October 30.
Garcia said these complaints should be verified and investigated before they will be brought to the attention of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
He sternly warned that those who have influenced or threatened the teachers who were forced to back out from their poll duties will be jailed.
“Hindi natin babalikan ang mga guro, hindi tayo magpapakulong ng ating mga bayani o guro. Subalit kung sino ‘yung mga nang-impluwensya o nanakot sa kanila, ‘yan ang babalikan natin. Mukhang dapat kinakailangan mapanagot natin ang mga ‘yan,” Garcia stressed. (ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
ACKNOWLEDGING THE VARIOUS THREATS to the security and lives of the teachers who backed out from their traditional poll duties, Vice President and Education Secretary (VPES) Sara Duterte on Saturday thanked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for not filing charges against them.
On Friday, November 3, the Comelec announced that it would not be filing criminal complaints against teacher-poll workers who begged off from working during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) last October 30.
The VPES thanked the Comelec “for recognizing the various threats that confronted them during this time.”
“We also stand with Comelec in its resolve to file charges against those who intimidated, harassed, and threatened our teachers,” Duterte said.
Earlier, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) said that if the teachers “withdrew because they felt an imminent threat to their life, health, and safety,” Comelec should recognize that as a valid reason.
“Such acts of violence and coercion not only jeopardized the safety and security of our educators but also undermined their dedication to service,” Duterte also noted.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia earlier admitted that they do not have a total number yet of those who backed out on election day but expressed the belief that only a few did.
(ai/mnm)