MANILA, Phlippines - The Commission on Elections Employees' Union on Monday condemned the recent attempted assassination of an acting poll officer in Nueva Ecija.
The Comelec-EU scored the slay-try on lawyer Arsenio Reyes Jr., Gapan acting election officer, last Aug. 23 by gunmen in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.
Reports said Reyes was driving his vehicle around 2 p.m. last Friday when two men on board a motorcycle appeared from behind and fired several shots at Reyes.
The victim was hit twice in the body but managed to survive the attack, reports added.
"The Comelec-EU strongly condemns the attempted killing of election officer Reyes in Nueva Ecija. We call on the authorities to swiftly bring the perpetrators of this cowardly act to justice," ,"Comelec-EU national president Mac Ramirez said.
Ramirez said the latest incident of violence against poll officials and employees should prompt the Comelec leadership to institute additional safeguard measures.
"We reiterate that the dangers faced by Comelec employees in the frontlines are real. We maintain thus that our long standing call for wage increase and the grant of hazard pay are justified," he added.