Poll money for teachers spent in casino?

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Is it true that the P208,000 cash intended for the honoraria of teachers who served in the May 13 elections in Hinobaan town of Negros Occidental was spent in the casino by election officer Alan Jaro?

"I've heard about it," said Comelec-Western Visayas regional director Dennis Ausan, in a phone interview by Capitol reporters Monday.

Jaro allegedly failed to pay P208,000 to the poll workers, with P136,500 intended for the 91 board of election inspectors and P72,000 to 24 Department of Education supervisors, who served in the elections.

Based on records of the Comelec's Financial Business Department, Ausan clarified that not all of the P336,000 (the amount earlier reported as deposited in the account of Jaro) were unaccountable. "He (Jaro) paid the others, while some he did not," he said.

Ausan said it is one of the things being investigated, but he neither confirmed nor denied the rumors. "Jaro's case is still the subject for investigation, so he enjoys the right to due process right now," he said. "The validation still remains an allegation, unless a formal charge will be later filed against him."

Ausan disclosed that he already received the results of the fact-finding investigation, as well as the recommendation of Negros Occidental provincial elections supervisor Jessie Suarez.

He however refused to divulge the contents of the report, which he said will be forwarded first to the Comelec central office in Manila for appropriate action.

While waiting for the action of the Comelec central office, Ausan assured the poll workers that they will eventually receive their respective honorarium from the poll body. "As to when is the time, we can't determine yet because that is the call of the Central Office," he said.

Meanwhile, as Jaro has not reported for duty since June 16, Ausan has designated Leonor Layda as assistant election officer in Hinobaan, in lieu of Jaro, effective Monday.

Laida's designation was one of the urgent recommendations of Suarez, especially because the 10-day voters' registration for Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections had started already.

Suarez had given Jaro three days, or until last Friday, to submit his written explanation on why he had been "missing" since June 16, and why the P208,000 has not been released to the poll workers yet.

Suarez, for his part, assured the public that there is "no whitewash in the findings" since the credibility of the Comelec is also at stake here. "Administrative charges may be filed against Jaro,"  he added. — (FREEMAN)