Just a week before the May 2022 elections, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) sent a memorandum addressed to the Commission En Banc regarding continuous reshuffling of the poll body's personnel which is contrary to the regular practice.
Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, who heads the poll body's steering committee for the 2022 polls, said in a five-page memorandum dated May 2 that the reshuffling should have been finalized by February 2022. He said that this was the ideal period to end all personnel movement to give them sufficient time to prepare.
He cited six instances of reshuffling made through a memorandum issued by the office of Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan dated April 25 and 29. He said that the following resulted from the said move:
- One person shall be canvassing and serving as (Chairman) of the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) and City Board of Canvassers (CBOC), and concurrently
- Seven (7) areas have no Election Officers (EO)
- Provincial Election Supervisors (PES) were demoted and assigned as EOs;
- One personnel from the Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD) was suddenly transferred in Lanao del Sur;
- Two (2) National Capital Region (NCR) EOs were reshuffled without the knowledge of the Regional Election Director (RED) of NCR; and
- In the 29 April 2022 memo from the Office of the Chairman, they even assigned a certain Atty. Ramil Comendador, allegedly from the Law Department, as Acting EO of Picong, Lanao del Sur.
Casquejo emphasized that Comelec's law department does not have an employee in the name of Atty. Ramil Comendador. The basis for this assignment, according to Casquejo, is unknown. If gone unnoticed, the poll body would then be allowing someone not from the Comelec to chair the canvassing in the municipality of Picong, Lanao del Sur.
Not the first time
Casquejo stated that this is not the first time that the field personnel were reshuffled in their final assignment since March 2022. This as well is not hard to go unnoticed, he said.
He cited Section 56 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) which states that there shall be no changes in the composition, distribution, or assignment within 30 days before the elections.
"With all honesty and candidness, the continuous reshuffling being implemented by the Office of the Chairman disrupts the preparation of the election on the ground," he said.
He specifically mentioned the last-minute reshuffling assigning Election Assistants (EAs) as EOs will create disorder in the implementation of the digital signature, as they will Chair the Board of Canvassers. He said that these EAs are not trained to use the digital signature, much more, to perform the function and duties of a canvasser.
"Our field personnel are all set for the upcoming elections this May 09, 2022. There is no reason for abrupt changes in their posts," he said.
"There are certain actions that must be put to a halt; otherwise, greater injury is forecasted. Unknowingly and unwittingly, We, in effect are sacrificing our mend and women for a cast that is detrimental for the entire Commission and, forlornly, to the public. We are setting a dangerous precedent," he stated.
Already in place
Casquejo stressed that at the time the memo was released, the people assigned at the ground level including the preparations are already in place.
He pointed out as well that "no movement, no additional activities, no unnecessary proposals" of so-called COVID-proofing the elections and other "impertinent" suggestions and implementations that are not even helpful, but only putting into "disarray" everything that the Commission worked hard for in the three years of planning, is needed.
Casquejo also emphasized that the men and women of the Commission are experts in their field, over and above what others perceived them to be. He said that they know better, they are trained, and they are well-equipped in the field of conducting the elections.
"This is the opportune time that the Undersigned's colleagues in the En Banc to make a stand. Otherwise, all the hard work and years of planning for a successful, peaceful, and orderly election will be futile," he added.