MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said that it would not file criminal cases against teachers who withdrew from their duties as poll workers on the day of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
“Ito po nililiwanag ko, wala po tayong planong magpakulong ng kahit isang guro; hindi po natin intensyon ‘yan,” said Comelec chair George Garcia in a press conference.
(This is what I am clarifying: we have no plans to imprison even one teacher. That is not our intention.)
Nevertheless, Garcia said that the Comelec intends to investigate the reasons for the teachers’ withdrawal, as well as who may have threatened them.
“We will not file cases against teachers, lalong lalo na sa mga hindi nagsilbi at nagwithdraw prior to the elections,” Garcia explained.
(We will not file cases against teachers, especially those who did not serve and withdrew before the election.)
“Pero ‘yung nasa election day at nag-withdraw gusto natin alamin, bakit hindi niyo tinurn over ‘yung mga election paraphernalia sa mga pumalit sa inyo?” he added.
(But for those who withdrew on election day, we want to know why you didn’t turn over the election paraphernalia to those who replaced you?)
Meanwhile, Garcia said that the public should expect the Comelec to start charging those who “threatened or cause violence against teachers, personnel, Comelec officials and employees.”
