Comelec lawyers, PNP trainees to serve as BEIs in special polls in Lanao del Sur on June 3

INSTEAD of public school teachers, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has deputized its lawyers and police trainees to serve as Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) in the special elections in Lanao del Sur on Thursday.

In an 11-page resolution, the Comelec ordered the replacement of election officers in Lanao del Sur’s seven municipalities with Comelec lawyers and Philippine National Police (PNP) trainees.

Comelec lawyers will be assigned as chairmen of the Board of Canvassers as well as election officers for the special polls.

At the same time, the Comelec also ordered police trainees from Regions 10, 11 and 12 to be on stand-by in case there would be a shortage of teachers who will serve as members of the special BEIs.

The police trainees will undergo training in the operation of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and procedures for voting and counting.

Earlier, the poll body declared failure of elections in the seven Lanao del Sur towns after teachers there refused to perform election duties last May 10 due to threats and violent incidents. (PIA-Bohol)