Pasay teachers to get poll duty pay after special elections

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) officer in Pasay City said yesterday that the payments for  teachers who served in the last barangay elections in Barangay 76 will only be released after a special election is held in the area.

Comelec officer Antonette Soriano said the 84 teachers who were assigned in the 28 precincts at the Pasay City North High School (Annex) in Barangay 76, will have to wait until a special election is held and the winners are announced.    

“I have already sent the national Comelec office a letter suggesting a particular date when this special election can be held. However, there is no feedback yet and I’ve also learned that the special election in the city will be held on the same day a special election will be observed in some barangays in Taguig and other cities where a failure of elections has been declared,” she said.

Soriano added that as early as 8 a.m. last Oct. 29, elections in Barangay 76 were stopped after a question involving the legitimate address of 600 disenfranchised voters, all residents of the barangay, was raised.

Earlier reports said an unidentified group started the alleged ballot box-snatching as well as the destruction of school property while elections were being held. 

There were also reports of flying voters in the area, where three candidates vied for the post of barangay captain.

Local Comelec officials said that what happened in Barangay 76 was an isolated case since there were no other problems recorded or reported.

Last Monday, Mayor Wenceslao “Peewee” Trinidad swore into office 170 newly elected barangay captains.      – Rhodina Villanueva