Nilinaw ng Department of Education (DepEd) na wala itong inilabas na kautusan na nagbabawal sa mga gurong miyembro ng unyon at iba pang grupo na magsilbi sa darating na halalan.
Kinontra ni Education Sec. Leonor Briones ang naunang pahayag ng Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) na may ilang DepEd local offices umano ang nag-deklarang ineligable ang kanilang mga miyembro na maging parte ng Board of Election Inspectors.
“There had been no issuance by DepEd Central Office prohibiting members of ACT or any teachers’ unions or associations and announcing their ineligibility to serve as part of the electoral boards in the upcoming midterm polls,†ani Briones.
Hinamon ng kalihim ang grupo na maglabas ng sapat na basehan na makapagpapatunay sa kanilang akusasyon, dahil siya mismo bilang Education secretary ay wala raw nilalagdaang kautusan hinggil dito.
Ani Briones, hindi nagtutugma ang mga impormasyong inilabas ng grupo sa kanilang statement, gayundin na ito na mismo ang umamoin na hindi pa validated ang kanilang natanggap na report.
“Reading closely ACT’s statement we see its internal inconsistencies, and the resulting disinformation and malicious imputations. It acknowledges in the statement itself that their allegations are not validated.”
“Before condemning, ACT should come forward with specific and validated incidents when alleged DepEd local officials prohibited election service of their members who are public school teachers.”
Pinayuhin din nito ang mga opisyal ng grupo na reviewhin ang Saligang Batas dahil nakasaad doon ang disqualification ng party-list member sa mga magsisilbi sa halalan.
“Relatedly, it may be asked whether membership of public school teachers and other government employees in an electoral party, such as party-lists, does not violate the laws prohibiting civil servants from engaging in partisan political activities.”
