Poll security worries Maguindanao teachers

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines  – The provincial peace and order council has asked the police and the military to provide enough protection to public school teachers who will serve in remote areas during the Oct. 28 barangay elections.

Udtog Tago, provincial election supervisor of Maguindanao, earlier had reported to the central office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that some 700 teachers in the province are reluctant to serve in the barangay polls due to security reasons.

Maguindanao, which has 36 towns, is a component province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Tago said some of the complaining teachers experienced harassment and coercion from certain political camps during the May 13 synchronized elections, thus they have expressed their desire to be relieved of poll duties on Oct. 28.

A big number of teachers have also raised the issue of propriety in serving on Oct. 28 in areas where candidates for barangay positions are related to them either by blood or affinity.

Tago, however, is confident that the Comelec, the police, military, and the provincial peace and order council can jointly address the issue.

Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, who chairs the council, has appealed to local peace advocates and religious leaders to help the Comelec disseminate the gun ban to ensure safe and credible barangay polls.

Mangudadatu said the provincial league of mayors has also been tasked to help initiate dialogues among candidates for them to be warned of the consequences of violating any provision of the Omnibus Election Code.

Mangudadatu though said no case of gun ban violation has been reported in the province since its enforcement last week.

Mangudadatu said he has instructed the provincial police director, Senior Superintendent Rudelio Jocson, to help the Comelec build strong cases against violators to ensure they are penalized to the fullest extent of the law.

Tago said the teachers who have asked to be relieved of election duties are based in the towns of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Salipada K. Pendatun, Shariff Aguak, Saidona Mustapha, Datu Piang and Datu Abdullah Sangki, all in the second district.

Tago said one way of ensuring they can administer safe and credible barangay elections in the six towns is to beef up security by deploying more police and military personnel.

Tago said Mangudadatu’s office has been helping since last week address peace and security issues that could possibly affect the Oct. 28 barangay polls in some parts of the province.

Tago though said the security issue and constraints are still manageable and can be addressed promptly with the help of the governor, the provincial police and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.