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Teachers’ group seeks police, military involvement as election inspectors

TEACH President Abunawas Solaiman says Comelec should also consider raising the compensation of teachers who serve as BEI in the elections. Teachers receive P3,000 and the release of said amount is delayed most of the time. Photo by ARTHA KIRA PAREDES.
TEACH President Abunawas Solaiman says Comelec should also consider raising the compensation of teachers who serve as BEI in the elections. Teachers receive P3,000 and the release of said amount is delayed most of the time. Photo by ARTHA KIRA PAREDES.

By ARTHA KIRA PAREDES

COTABATO City— Social Studies teacher Abunawas Solaiman clearly remembers the 2004 elections because, he said, it was the only time he felt safe serving as a member of the Board of Election Inspectors.

He was then assigned at precinct 21-A in Barangay Katbo, Matanog in Maguindanao, serving alongside a policeman and a marine officer to man the precinct, the year the government allowed members of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army to serve in the BEIs.

Walang pumapasok na mga nananakot sa mga guro or doon sa mga bumuboto (No one came inside the voting precinct to intimidate teachers and voters),” recalled Solaiman, president of the Teachers Alliance for Change (TEACH).

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