Duties keep poll officers from voting

CEBU, Philippines - Amid the advocacy of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for registered voters to practice their right of suffrage, most election officers and even supervisors admit that they themselves would not be able to vote this coming election.

This is due to the temporary reshuffling of provincial election supervisors and election officers for the whole duration of the election period as indicated in Comelec Resolution No. 9626, said Atty. Eddie Aba, provincial supervisor of Cebu.

Aba admitted he himself would not be able to vote since he is registered in Negros Oriental. Aba was temporarily transferred to Cebu replacing Atty. Marco Lionel Castillano who was reassigned to Bohol.

This is the second time that he is not able to vote, said Aba.

Castillano, meanwhile, said that ever since he joined Comelec in 1998, he has not voted anymore due to time constraints in their job where they are tasked to look over all election-related detail in all cities and municipalities within their jurisdiction.

Aba and Castillano explained that it's not only even during election day that they are busy. Most of the time, it's the three days before and after May 13 which are very critical days.

Even Comelec-7 Regional Director Temie Lambino said he will not be able to vote since he is registered in Luzon.

Election officials can apply, though, for the Local Absentee Voting, said Lambino. But it's a personal preference whether to apply for the absentee voting or not, he explained.

However, all three officials said that even if they are not able to vote, doing their job manning the electoral process in areas where they are assigned is the best participation that the election officers and supervisors can give during the election.

As for election officers, 5 out of 54 election officers interviewed by The Freeman confirmed that they would not be able to vote.

Jezreel Amoguis and Emmanual Uy, election officers of Liloan and Compostela, would not be able to vote since they were reassigned to Alcoy and Pinamungajan, respectively. But regardless of the reshuffling, they said they still are not able to vote since they are registered in Cebu city.

Also, Michael Angelo Sarno is registered in Toledo city but will be assigned in Bogo city.  He said his brother, Marchel, will also be assigned far from his registered precinct.

Atty. Ferdinand Gujilde said he and his wife, Anna Fleur, are both registered in Mandaue city but are assigned in Cebu City South district and Lapu-Lapu city respectively.

Although the assignments are just near, Gujilde said they will still try if they can vote. “Our election duties take precedence over suffrage.”

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez earlier apologized to the public after taking notice just recently that his voter's registration was deactivated after failing to vote for two consecutive elections.

But just like Jimenez, the election officials stated that it is every citizen's duty to do his part during the election by voting. For their part, Lambino stressed that they would ensure a safe and smooth-sailing election.

Meanwhile, Comelec-7 representatives met yesterday with officials of the Australian embassy who are interested to be foreign observers in the coming election.

Lambino said that the Australian Embassy is the first one they have met so far who will be foreign observers on May 13.

Comelec Resolution 9652 states that duly-accredited foreign observers are allowed to observe election preparatory activities, and during the election day itself, wherein they can conduct interview with Board of Election Inspectors and the voters.

Lambino said they also discussed yesterday with Second Secretary of the Australian Embassy, William Robinson, all the preparation the commission has done for the upcoming election especially on curbing illegal election activities like vote-buying.

Further, Aba said that the deployment of PCOS machines for the final testing and sealing on May 8 will be on May 6 and 7. He said that he has already instructed the election officers to assist the deployment of the machines.

The Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) shall be done at the polling places. However, Aba said that there is a resolution for election officers to request for it to be held in some other venues like in the poblacion level, city, or in the municipal proper provided that it is done with approval of the director.

Aba added that a random manual team composed of the election officers will also be present during the FTS to count the votes manually as basis of comparison for the results generated by the machine.

He added also that if there will be some technical problems regarding the machine, the manual count will be very helpful to cope up with the problem.

As for voters who do not have their voter's ID in possession yet, Aba said this will not be a problem. “As long as their name is in the election certified voters list then they can vote, it is not really a requirement for them to exercise their freedom to suffrage,”Aba said. —/JPM (FREEMAN)