CEBU CITY – A lawyer who is a congressional candidate in the first district of Bohol under the Aksyon Demokratiko party has elevated his call for electoral impartiality by filing a petition for mandamus before the Supreme Court.

ATTY. Jordan M. Pizarras files a petition before the Supreme Court seeking the transfer of an election official in Bohol province. (Contributed photo)
Atty. Jordan M. Pizarras filed a petition urging the High Court to compel the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to enforce existing laws mandating the periodic reassignment of local election officers.
This legal move follows Pizarras' earlier request to the Comelec to reassign Bohol Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Eliseo Labaria, who has held his position since 2010.
Pizarras argued that Labaria's extended tenure may compromise the neutrality essential for credible elections.
Accpording to him, the Comelec should consider reassigning Labaria to another post to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
In his petition filed on April 10, Pizarras emphasized that the Constitution mandates Comelec to ensure "free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections."
He cited Section 44 of Republic Act No. 8189 that stipulates that no election officer shall serve in a particular city or municipality for more than four years.
Additionally, he said Section 56 of the Omnibus Election Code allows the Comelec the authority to make changes in the assignment of its field offices.
Pizarras argued that enforcing these provisions is crucial to maintaining the impartiality of election officers and, by extension, the credibility of the electoral process.
The lawyer added that an intervention by the Supreme Court is necessary to ensure that the Comelec fulfills its constitutional duties.