Comelec reshuffles election officers in BARMM, other areas —Garcia

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has reshuffled poll officers in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and other areas, Commissioner George Garcia said Friday.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, Garcia said Comelec chairperson Saidamen Pangarungan issued the order on reassignments.

“Tama po, may mga nangyari po na mga pagbabago at siyempre po 'yan ay na-isyu po ng ating kagalang-galang na chairman dahil doon sa mga pangangailangan na dapat ayusin doon sa mga areas  na iyan,” he said.

(That is correct, there have been changes and of course our respected chairman issued the order in order to address the issues that need to be fixed.)

Garcia said he cannot tell how many election officers have been reshuffled but he said they are many.

“Tungkol sa kung ilan po 'yung bilang ng mga na-reshuffle o na-reassigned na election officer sa area ng BARMM at iba pang area po ng bansa ay babalikan ko po kayo sa bagay na 'yan dahil medyo madami-dami rin 'yung mga nalipat na mga election officers,” he said.

(Regarding how many have been reshuffled or reassigned in BARMM and other areas, I will get back to you because there are so many.)

On Thursday, Cotabato City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi said teachers were protesting that their names were removed from the list of electoral board members and replaced with other educators.

“Nagsalita 'yung mga guro dahil ang sabi nila 'yang ipapalit ninyo sa amin na mga Islamic teachers walang training 'yan. Hindi 'yan naisyuhan ng DOST certificate na nagpapatunay na qualified sila maging member,” she said.

[Designated teachers complained, saying that the Islamic educators who are supposed to replace them do not have training and have no DOST certification to perform poll duties.]

She claimed that the office of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education of the BARMM first replaced the superintendent before removing the teachers.

Sayadi also claimed that the ministry is allegedly controlling the election officer in making the list of electoral board members.

Garcia earlier said the Comelec would not allow the reported replacement of electoral board members in the BARMM for the May 9 polls.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, he pointed out that teachers designated in election boards nationwide had undergone training to be effective on their election day duties.—AOL, GMA News