Comelec eyes police as poll officials in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY --- The Commission on Elections in Maguindanao is considering police personnel to serve as electoral board in the forthcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections if the situation warrants.

Atty. Udtog Tago, provincial election supervisor, said priority is given to teachers to compose the Board of Election Inspectors to administer and supervise the twin May 14 polls.

But Tago said some police officers in the province have undergone training on administration of local elections and they may be tapped should teachers, for one reason or another, could not serve.

One of the reasons why teachers are disqualified from serving in the elections is they are related by blood or by affinity to any of the local candidates.

“Some for health reasons and other valid excuses, they may skip serving the elections,” he said.

According to Tago, so far the composition of the electoral board is still being assessed and evaluated.

After the filing of candidacy on April 21, the poll body provincial office would have ample knowledge whether the composition of the electoral board has conflict of interest due to relationship with the aspirants.

Tago foresees peaceful and orderly elections in Maguindanao due to the presence of police and military personnel as well as the ongoing campaign of the government against loose firearms.

Maguindanao has 508 barangays with 833,176 registered voters who are expected to troop to various voting precincts on May 14. (Edwin Fernandez, PNA - Cotabato)