TEACHERS all over the province of Negros Occidental have been warned of partisanship and on the possible bribery that any political candidates would offer them.
Rizalino Tortosa, Schools Division Superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd), said he already reminded the teachers to “uphold” their moral standards to free them from the impunity of the dirty politicking by politicians or other candidates.
“I have been repeatedly warning them that they should not compromise their integrity in exchange of bribe money or any form so it will not compromise them of losing their once in a lifetime job…that is of serving the government and being an employee of the government,” said Tortosa.
Tortosa also said that if indeed a particular teacher would indulge in partisanship, “That’s already beyond my ministerial duty. Whoever might be involved, then, he or she should be ready for whatever sanctions that could be filed against them.”
He said teachers assigned in areas that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) identified to be “areas of concern,” have been strictly warned to observe the conduct of an honest and clean elections.
In line with the poll automation, Provincial election supervisor Jessie B. Suarez wrote Tortosa, inviting him for a three-day training on general instructions and the use of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines.
The training will be held at the El Grande Resort Spa and Convention Center, Phase IV, Marikudo, El Grande Village in Jaro, Iloilo City.
Suarez’ letter was relative to Republic Act (RA) 9369 and memorandum from lawyer Dennis L. Ausan, regional election director.
Tortosa said the training will be in batches and will start on February 19-23.