Comelec: 2,530 BARMM teachers backed out of BSKE duty

Over 2,500 teachers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) suddenly backed out of their voluntary poll duties for the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BKSE), Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said.

“Almost 2,530 sa Bangsamoro na mga guro na hindi nag-serve. Ang nakakalungkot, biglang may nag-back out na ilan na guro, for whatever reason,” Garcia said.

(There were 2,530 teachers in BARMM who did not go on poll duty. Sadly, some teachers backed out, for whatever reason.)

As to main reason why teachers abruptly withdrew as poll workers, Garcia pointed to their previous experience of shootings or threats during elections. 

“Iyong karanasan nila dati na may putukan, pananakot... na baka ganito ulit ang mangyari ngayon. Mayroong nagkaputukan, may namatay kaninang umaga, nagkabarilan... unfortunately,” said Garcia, referring to three election-related deaths in BARMM. 

Garcia, however, clarified that some of these teachers later changed their minds and tried to return to their election work, but the Comelec did not tolerate such flip-flopping.

“Hindi puedeng urong sulong,” Garcia said.

(They can’t be indecisive.)

“The fact na may gusto bumalik, napansin nila na mukhang tahimik ang pagco-conduct ng eleksyon at napaghandaan,” Garcia added.

(The fact that some changed their minds showed that they were convinced that they would not have the same experience this time.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News