Comelec to file raps vs. gov't officials who interfered during BSKE 2023

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said Sunday the poll body will file cases against local government officials who meddled with and threatened poll workers during the recently concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2023.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Garcia said the Comelec will come up with a list of these erring government officials by Monday.

“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 na maaaring maulit muli sa mga susunod na halalan,” he said.

(I have called for a meeting where we will finalize the list of those whom we think interfered in our election. We need to take that matter seriously, especially since it may happen again in the next elections.)

“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,” he added.

(We will not file cases against our heroes or teachers, but we will do so against those who influenced or threatened them. We must hold them accountable.)

Garcia noted the poll body received more than 10 complaints against local government officials interfering with the BSKE on October 30.

He said these complaints need to be verified and investigated, and will be brought to the attention of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“Magpa-file kami ng kaso gayong napakaganda ng relationship natin sa DILG… ‘Yung pakikialam kasi lalo na ng opisyal na nahalal na at hindi naman tumatakbo, ‘yan ang nagpapagulo ng isang eleksyon,” he added.

(We will file a case since we have a very good relationship with the DILG... The interference of an official who has already been elected and is not running, messes up an election.)

Garcia on Friday clarified that they will not pursue criminal charges against teachers who backed out of election duty at the last minute, but only against individuals who allegedly harassed them.

Around 2,530 teachers backed out of their voluntary election day service in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

At least three persons were killed and several others were hurt in violence related to the BSKE 2023 in the BARMM on Election Day, October 30. —KG, GMA Integrated News