The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced yesterday that teachers and other pollworkers are getting a P2,000 increase in their election allowance,
In a statement, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the allowances will be as follows:
- For the electoral board chairperson: P12,000 from P10,000
- For the poll clerk and 3rd member: P11,000 from P9,000
- For the support staff: P8,000 from P6,000
She also urged the Comelec to release the teachers’ compensation as quickly as possible.
Pangandaman said the higher allowance was in response to the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to give bigger compensation for teachers.
The Comelec said there are about 758,549 poll workers nationwide.
Meanwhile, the number of validated election-related incidents (ERIs) has increased to 40, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported Thursday.
The PNP said that 26 of these incidents were “violent” and 14 were “non-violent.”
Most of the validated violent election-related incidents were reported in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with eight, followed by Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) with seven.
Three validated violent election-related incidents were monitored in Zamboanga Peninsula and two in Cagayan Valley.
Meanwhile, one validated violent election-related incident was reported each in Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen.
The PNP is still validating 17 suspected ERIs in Ilocos Region, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, and BARMM.
A total of 2,923 individuals have been arrested for violating the election gun ban, according to the PNP.
Most of them were from Metro Manila with 1,007, followed by Central Visayas with 380 and Central Luzon with 360.
Among the gun ban violators were 19 policemen, 18 soldiers, 7 from other law enforcement agencies, 9 elected government officials, and 2 appointed government officials.
Also arrested were 6 CAFGU militia, 13 foreign nationals, 3 children in conflict with the law, 3 suspected communist rebels, 48 security guards, and 2,795 civilians.
A total of 3,011 firearms were seized — 1,120 revolvers, 841 pistols, 114 gun replicas, 77 explosives, 55 Class A guns, 24 rifles, 22 shotguns, five Class B guns, among others.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued show cause orders (SCO) to three local bets, including a relative of the Marcoses for alleged vote buying and for alleged “kissing auction” that occurred during one of their campaign activities.
The issued the SCOs to Laoag City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon, for allegedly handing cash to people in Laoag City, while Urdaneta City, Pangasinan’s Mayor Rammy Parayno and Vice Mayor Jimmy Parayno were being asked to explain the alleged “kissing auction” during a campaign rally.
The Comelec’s Kontra Bigay and Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections’ (Task Force SAFE) gave the three candidates three days to submit a written explanation on why they should not be subjected to an election offense and disqualification.
The Comelec Resolution No. 1116 notes that a candidate who commits bullying, including gender-based harassment, during the election period, is subject to an election offense.
The Comelec will implement a liquor ban nationwide from May 11 to 12, warning the public that any violation may result in imprisonment, loss of voting rights, and permanent disqualification from holding public office.
The Comelec said that only establishments certified by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as tourist-oriented and that regularly serve foreign visitors may be eligible for exemption, provided they obtain prior written approval from the Comelec. Additionally, during the prohibition, only foreign tourists are allowed to drink alcohol in these exempted establishments.
