Comelec seeks review of Omnibus Election Code

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has called for a review of the Omnibus Election Code to protect its field officials and personnel from harassment by leaders of local government units.

Comelec Commissioner Lui Guia said the Code requires LGUs to provide the Comelec a local office.

“That’s the big irony because we are independent. But under the law, it’s the LGUs that are paying for our field office. The law states that the infrastructure must come from the LGUs,” he said.

Guia noted that because of this set-up, election officers and other poll personnel are prone to harassment by local leaders.

“We have Comelec offices that are near the comfort room because the mayor does not like the election officer. In some instances when there is a brownout, all other offices are lighted because of generator, except for the Comelec office,” he said.

He also cited instances when politicians would seek the removal or transfer of an election officer.

While it would be financially taxing for Comelec to provide for its own field offices, prudence dictates that the poll body should not rely on the LGUs, Guia said.

“We really have to revisit the law. This is one of the institutional constraints that we have to contend with to enforce the law. This emphasizes the limited resources of the Comelec,” he said. – With Artemio Dumlao