Comelec Confirms Teachers Backing Out from Poll Duties Mostly in Bangsamoro
The authorities in the Philippines must not ignore reports about teachers backing out from poll duties in Bangasamoro due to threats.
Recently, Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections were held in the Philippines. On the 31st day of October 2023, millions of Filipinos exercised their right to vote. The voting was scheduled from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
There were voting precincts that finished early as the voters came early. There were also those that went past the 3:00 p.m. closing as there were still voters coming. The poll was facilitated by the teachers under the Department of Education (DepEd).
Truth be told that a lot of teachers experienced intense exhaustion with their BSKE duties tasks they had to do. From the preparation to the voting to the canvassing of votes, it took a lot of teachers until midnight or early morning of the next day.
However, there were also reports of teachers backing out from their poll duties. While it may sound unfair in the case of the educators who served during the elections, the move of the teachers were considered valid because “threats” have made them refuse to serve in the recent elections.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) confirmed that most of the teachers who refused to render their service during the BSKE were in the Bangsamoro region. The poll body said they won’t file charges against the educators who refused to render their service during the poll due to threats.
The decision of the Comelec was welcomed by DepEd Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte. She also stressed her support to the poll body in filing charges against those who were behind the threats to the educators.
I believe that the PH authorities must investigate such kind of reports not only for the safety of the recipients of the ill warnings but also to fight and put an end to a culture wherein some individuals bypass the rights of other people simply by threatening them. Solving the case can serve as warnings to other people not to the same for their greedy intentions.
A clean and honest election is one of those that can bring a huge difference in a country. The judgment of the people must never be tainted by ill warnings that would prevent others from exercising their rights or fulfilling their responsibilities.
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