CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña belied allegations that he and officials of the Cebu City Commission on Elections (Comelec) connived to have City Hall employees work as members of the board of canvassers and poll clerks on the elections next Monday.
This came after opposition-allied Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman, in a Facebook post dated May 8, accused the mayor of having a hand in the appointment of the members of the electoral board.
“Sa paningkamot aning yabag nga mayor nga mapildi ug manikas sila sa umaabot nga barangay elections... Ako duda nagkonsabo ni si Tombully ug taga Cebu City Comelec. Sa higayon akong mahibaw an di gyud mo magmahay. Sa higayon mahibaw-an nako nga nagkunsabo mo, di ko magpanuko ug kiha ninyo,” reads a portion of the post.
Osmeña called the allegations a “diversionary tactic.”
Under review
“I have not picked anything, neither the canvassers. It is Ayuman that is courting the teachers. He took all of them to Pinamungajan, trying to get their sympathy. Of course, I am suspicious of what he is up to. He will file a case over anything and everything because these people can’t accomplish anything by themselves,” Osmeña added.
Comelec 7 Director Atty. Veronico Petalcorin, for his part, said election officers (EO) are still reviewing the list of members of the electoral board. He added that Comelec has not received any endorsements or requests from any local government units (LGU) on the appointment of their employees as members of the board.
Petalcorin pointed out that there’s a hierarchy that must be observed before it taps LGU employees during the elections.
“Private school teachers, non-teaching Department of Education personnel, National Government employees. Then the last resort is the local government unit. We must have to act impartial and careful,” Petalcorin said.
In a separate comment, opposition Councilor Jose Daluz III said they raised concerns on the matter because if it’s true, it will politicize the elections.
He added that Comelec has yet to finalize the constitution of the electoral board, even with elections less than a week away.
“I think the EOs should refrain nga dili sya mangita diri sa City Hall og electoral board member para fair ba (from tapping City Hall employees as electoral board members so it’ll be fair). No perception of partiality,” he said.
Daluz also urged teachers to work as canvassers during the elections, although they are no longer mandated by the law to do so.