MANILA -- A teachers' group is considering boycotting the automated polls this coming May if the Commission on Elections (Comelec) fails to act on their concerns.

Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) has appealed to the poll body to prevent disenfranchisement of teachers since they will be serving as the board of election inspectors (BEIs) on May 10.

BEIs guide registered voters on the voting process on election day. Three BEIs, including one chairman, will serve per clustered precinct.

TDC national chairperson Benjo Basas told Sun.Star that they have continuously appealed to Comelec to prevent disenfranchisement through: the verification of status of our voters' registration, reactivation of those who were deactivated, transfer of registration of those who are registered in places other than their work assignments and special registration for teachers.

"That is one of our options for Comelec's continuous disregard of our appeal," said Basas. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)