Teachers seek removal of tax on election pay

Several teachers on Thursday appealed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the removal of 20% tax on their election service honorariums for Eleksyon 2022 in May.

According to a report on “24 Oras,” a group of teachers trooped to Comelec headquarters in Intramuros to urge the removal of the tax, and that in fact their election service compensation should be increased.

The group said they have written twice to the poll body but it has yet to respond to their appeal.

Newly appointed poll commissioner George Garcia said he supported the teachers, but it would be up to Congress and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to decide on the issue.

Meanwhile, newly appointed Comelec chairman Saidamen Pangarungan vowed to be a “defender of democracy,” noting that under his term he will strengthen the “sanctity of vote and independence” of the poll body.

Pangarungan formally assumed the chairmanship post at a ceremony welcoming the newly appointed members of the Comelec en banc on Wednesday.

President Rodrigo Duterte also signed the appointment of Garcia and Aimee Torrefranca-Neri as ad interim Comelec commissioners.

The national and local elections will be held on May 9. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA News