The Commission on Election (Comelec) will file charges against teachers in Bangasamoro who backed out as poll watchers on the day of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) last Oct. 30.
Interviewed during DZRH’s Dos Por Dos on Thursday, Nov. 2, Comelec chairman George Garcia said the teachers withdrew from their poll duties amidst the casting of votes.
“Meron tayong naranasan dyan sa area ng Bangsamoro, saan ka nakakita na nag-eleksyon at saka nag-back out [ang mga teachers]? Nagsisimula na po eh, naghahalalan [tapos] nag-back out for whatever reasons,” he said.
Garcia said their investigation showed that teachers’ withdrawal was driven by solely politics and not fear.
“Hindi sa tinakot or whatever, eh na-pulitika. Siguro matatalo na yung [kandidatong] grupo kaya nag-withdraw. Doon tayo galit. Bakit nagsimula ang pagpapaboto tapos sa kalagitnaan, bigla kang magwi-withdraw? Eh hindi maganda iyon,” he said.
“Kung may pananakot, napakadali na i-report sa amin ang mismong pananakot na iyon,” the Comelec Chief added.
According to Garcia, the 2,500 teachers in Abra will not be charged as they withdrew a day before the BSKE.
“Ginagalang natin at nire-repesto yung pag hindi nila pagsang-ayon sa paglilingkod. No problem. Therefore, hindi sila makakatanggap ng kaso,” he said.
On Wednesday, Nov. 1, Interior Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. expressed his support for the filing of cases.
"I am supporting it. Bakit? Pinaghandaan nila iyan, they were trained. At importante sa lahat iyong mismong araw ng eleksyon, this is suffrage, this is right to vote," he said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
"Isipin mo, just because of that act, we will be denying people of that right to suffrage. That's unthinkable [....] Unless, of course, may valid reason naman," Abalos added.
