3 Maguindanao poll inspectors not missing, PPCRV clarifies
MANILA, Philippines — They were not missing after all.
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) admitted a slight confusion occurred that led officials to believe three teachers serving as board of elections inspectors (BEIs) on Election Day (Monday) were missing.
PPCRV earlier released bulletins that BEIs in three towns in Maguindanao were reported missing.
“As of 2 p.m. they have not been located,” Ana De Villa-Singson, PPCRV media director, told reporters earlier.
But later in the day, reports filtered in clarifying that the BEIs were not missing at all.
The Archdiocese of Cotabato sent a report saying that the teachers had actually backed out of manning the polling precincts after their district supervisor was killed.
“They don’t want to be BEIs anymore. That’s why we couldn’t find them,” said De Villa-Singson.
A Philippine Daily Inquirer report has earlier said that in the absence of the teachers, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has tasked police officers as BEIs.
