22 poll officers in Iloilo up for reshuffling
Twenty two election officers in the province of Iloilo will be subjected to reshuffling within the week.
Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Elizabeth Doronila said the reshuffling is in compliance with Republic Act 8189 otherwise known as Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 which requires that election officers shall not be related to any incumbent city or municipal elective official within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.
Doronila said they are just awaiting the resolution coming from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc before implementing the reshuffling.
She, however, refused to give the names of the election officers up for reshuffling saying that they would wait first for the Comelec resolution.
Doronila also disclosed that she might also be transferred to other provincial election offices in the region. However, Doronila said the she still has to see the approval from the Comelec en banc.
She added that although they have to familiarize again themselves on their new area of assignment once they are transferred, they cannot do otherwise but to follow the order from their higher ups.
Doronila said with barely two weeks left before the May 10 election her office is already on the thick of the necessary preparations.
She said they are already preparing for the delivery of the Precinct Optical Scan (PCOS) machines for the province which is expected on May 3.
Iloilo province will have 2,048 PCOS machines which will be subjected for testing on May 7.
Meanwhile, Doronila said the Comelec central office will start delivering the official ballots starting today, Wednesday.
Doronila also allayed fears of technical problems concerning the PCOS machines come election day saying the supplier Smartmatic TIM is on top of the situation.
As regards the areas in Western Visayas without power supply, Doronila said that they already advised the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) in the identified areas to bring flashlights, rechargeable lamps or petromax in case the voting centers are dark. They have also asked the help of the barangay officials regarding the matter.
Doronila stressed that the PCOS machines will function even if there is no power supply since it has a built-in battery that would last up to 16 hours. She said they are more concerned of the lighting on voting place in areas which do not have electricity.
