CEBU CITY – Following the spate of killings of elected officials in San Fernando, Cebu, some public school teachers in the town are unwilling to serve as members of the Board of Election Inspectors in the May 13 elections.
Municipal election officer Renanto Angcos said at least 20 teachers have come forward to express their apprehension to serve in the mid-term elections. “Their primary reason is that they are unsure of their safety during the elections,” said Angcos.
Angcos said some teachers started backing out after the ambush on San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya last Jan. 22. Killed in the ambush were the mayor’s husband, Association of Barangay Councils president and vice mayoral candidate Nonoy Reluya, and their two aides.
Prior to the ambush, two local officials were also killed by still-unidentified gunmen. Barangay Magsico Captain Johnny Arriesgado was ambushed while he was driving his multicab last Jan. 16 while municipal councilor Boy Dacalos was shot dead inside a store last Jan. 10.
Angcos said when some teachers started refusing to render election duties, a coordination meeting was held between officials of the Commission on Elections and the police. “We wanted to eliminate the unfounded fear but even after the meeting, more teachers refused to be a part of the electoral board,” said Angcos.
Angcos said the town needs 177 teachers for the upcoming elections and if some public teachers decide to back out, the Comelec will be tapping the services of private school teachers. The teachers were given until today to decide whether or not they will serve in the elections. (Calvin Cordova)