Better security for teachers in barangay polls in Maguindanao sought

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - The provincial peace and order council (PPOC) has asked the police and the military to provide tighter security  to public school teachers who will serve in remote areas during the October 28 barangay elections.

Udtog Tago, the provincial election supervisor of Maguindanao, had earlier reported to the central office of the Commission on Elections that some 700 teachers in the province are reluctant to serve during 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 had cited experiences of harassments and coercion by certain political camps during the May 13 polls as reasons for their desire to be relieved of poll duties on October 28.

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

Tago is confident, however, that the Comelec, the police, the military, and the  PPOC can jointly address security issues. 

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, chairman of the PPOC, on Thursday appealed to local peace advocates and religious leaders to help the Comelec disseminate the nationwide gun ban being imposed by the poll body to ensure safe and credible barangay elections.

Mangudadatu said the league of mayors in the province has also been tasked to help initiate dialogues among candidates to prevent poll offenses and violence.

Mangudadatu said there has not been any single case yet of gun ban violation in the province since its implementation last week.

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

Tago said the teachers who had 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 of the province.

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 policemen and soldiers.

Tago said the office of Mangudadatu has been helping since last week address all peace and security issues that could possibly affect the October 28 barangay electoral exercise in some parts of the province. - John Unson