VIGAN CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said they are preparing for what they call as “last resort” in case there will be a “failure” in the side of public school teachers who will serve as board of election inspectors (BEI) for May 13 midterm elections.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez made the statement amid the impasse over the proposed P3.7-trillion national budget for this year where the honorarium for those who will serve as BEIs shall be derived.
In an interview with Bombo Radyo Vigan, Jimenez said that they are considering the cadets of Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) and even members of the regular police force as back-up BEIs.
According to the poll official, the PNPA cadets and some PNP personnel are already in training for them to know what they should do just in case they will perform the duties of a BEI in some parts of the country.
Aside from PNPA cadets and PNP personnel, there are also standby teachers who are ready to serve as election inspectors in case there will be insufficiencies.
The poll body earlier said they are one with the Department of Education’s appeal to Congress that the latter should break the deadlock over the 2019 budget and pass it as soon as possible.
Comelec pointed out that the budget should be released for them to have funds to pay teachers who will serve in the upcoming polls.
