ESRA to address effective, truthful elections

Voters look their names at the voters' lists outside the voting center at the Iligan City National High School (ICNHS).

Iligan City - Some reactions from teachers didn’t know the new law on ESRA, the Republic Act 10756, otherwise known as the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA). This law is to address the problem on the ineffectiveness of the election service during elections.

The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) network nationwide headed by the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) based in Quezon City, conducted the nationwide survey with its network non-government organizations (NGOs) on the new law during the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. The ESRA was approved into law in 2015. The purpose of the survey is to strengthen the said law to be more effective and responsive in the next succeeding elections.

At left, Mr. Rex Razo, School principal, ICNHS

The ESRA was conceptualized by the LENTE in 2013 to address the concerns of teachers to serve as poll workers to ensure the proper conduct of the elections. Mr. Rex Razo, School principal of Iligan City National High School (ICNHS) said that they informed the teachers who wish to serve the elections. He said the conduct of the Barangay and SK Elections 2018 at ICNHS is relatively peaceful. 

In past decade elections was like a public market selling goods meaning rampant vote buying within and outside the polling place giving sample ballots to the voters when entering to the polling precincts.

Barangay elections was the most crucial and critical elections than the local, midterm and national elections because it’s a personalize elections even relatives are opponents in running for barangay elections and some personal issues become political issues.

In areas considered hotspots with absence of law enforcements, some cases the candidates will engage on shooting to defend their position of winning the elections at all costs. That’s why teachers will not serve as poll workers during elections especially in hotspots areas for safety reasons.

Voters look names at Iligan City Central School lists

Some teachers will not serve due to meager budget on allowances with less benefits. others learned a lesson that their allowances will not be released in due time. In the new law public school teachers are no longer compulsory to serve during elections but they are still priority and preference by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) if they are willing to serve during elections.

In the same law, as soon as the public school teachers will not serve as poll workers during elections, an order of next priority to serve are allowed in the said law, first, is the private school teachers; national government employees such as the non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd), other national government officials and employees holding regular or permanent positions, excluding uniformed personnel of the Department of National Defense and all its attached agencies; members of the commission-accredited citizen arms or other CSOs and NGOs duly accredited by the commission; and any registered voter of the city or municipality of known integrity and competence who is not connected with any candidate and political party. Teachers and other interested persons are prohibited to serve in the Election with relations to the candidates up to the 4th civil degree of affinity or consanguinity. 

In cases where the peace and order situation requires as determined by the commission and where there are no qualified voters willing to serve, uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police shall be deputized to render election service as a last resort.

The persons rendering election service shall be entitled with honoraria and allowances including other benefits. The chairperson of the Election boards shall receive an honoraria of PhP6,000.00; the members of the electoral boards PhP5,000.00; the department of Education Supervisor Official shall receive 4,000.00; and the support staff shall receive PhP2,000.00; All of them are entitled an additional travel allowance of PhP1,000.00. Such honoraria and allowances shall be given within 15 days from the date of the Election otherwise it is considered an election offense.  A minimum of five (5) days service credits shall accrue to all persons rendering election service including legal assistance, medical and death benefits for election related risks to be drawn from the trust fund.

Most of the reports in 2018 Barangay Elections whose names of voters were not found in the lists of voters at poll precincts but can be found in the lists of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and at the Comelec office. The Board of Election Tellers composed of chairman and two members will not allow the person to vote without their names in the official list of voters.

The Senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and pregnant women hardly voted during the elections because some of them found their poll precincts at the 2nd floor of the two-story building. They suggested to have their poll precincts at the ground floor.

There were also reported cases that a barangay Treasurer and Secretary were allegedly caught campaigning inside the polling place in favor of their re-electionist incumbent Barangay chairman in Barangay Poblacion this city, a potential violations of the election law that might be a reason for disqualification of a certain candidate.

Mayor Jabar Tago of Pantar, Lanao del Norte with his relatives was reportedly caught by the Military confiscated nine high powered firearms, five shotguns and a short firearm pistol with assorted ammunitions found in their family compound in the said municipality without any incidents of firefight.

The 2018 Barangay and SK elections in Iligan City and Lanao del Norte was generally peaceful. (by Jun Enriquez, photos by Salve Gimena).

Balo-i, Pantar of Lanao del Norte holds election peace covenant signing among candidates

L-R: Comelec officer Sania Macarambon, Pantar Mayor Jabar Tago, Major Teodoro Nicor, Capt Jovane Roble & PSI Mohammad Doro 

Balo-i, Lanao del Norte – there are two municipalities under the area of responsibility of the 42^nd Mechanized Infantry company, Philippine Army, based in Nangka, Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, under the command of Captain Jovane C. Roble, Philippine Army (PA), company commander, were able to conduct the Peace covenant signing on May 3, 2018 in the municipalities of Pantar at 9:00 A.M. and Balo-i at 1:00 P.M., all of Lanao del Norte. The 42^nd Mechanized company is under the 4^th Mechanized Battalion based in camp pintoy, Suarez, Iligan City, headed by Lt.Col. Valdez, PA, and under the higher command of the 2^nd mechanized Infantry “Magbalantay” Brigade, PA, headed by Col. Robert C. Dauz, PA.

Peace covenant signing in Pantar, LDN

The peace covenant signing was attended by the candidates for the barangay and SK election elections. There are 21 barangays in Pantar with seven barangays considered hotspots due to numbers of candidates running for barangay chairman with nine barangays have unopposed candidates, the rest considered to be normal. The municipality of Balo-i have 21 barangays with seven barangays considered hotspots with several candidates filed for the Barangay chairman others have unopposed candidates for the same positions. Candidates for Barangay councilors and SK candidates are not so much complicated.

Historically observed in hotspots barangays with several candidates to run for barangay chairman will result to violence and killings during and after elections. Capt. Roble warned to all the candidates in both municipalities to avoid committing vote buying, employing flying voters, harassments, violence and other form of election laws violations will be directly arrested. Roble said that martial law still exists until December 2018. He also said that there will be one company of scout ranger on stand-by during the election day ready to respond on any emergencies.

Roble said peace covenant is a commitment to peace during elections. He explained to the people about those who live in far places, a long time registered voter in the barangay and will come home to vote during elections is not a flying voter.

3rd-5th left: Capt Roble, Maj. Nicor & Balo-i Mayor Ali

Major Teodoro M. Nicor, Battalion Executive Officer of the 4^th Mechanized battalion, headed by Lt. Col. Valdez, said that cooperation is the key to peace, He urged the candidates who attended the forum to follow election laws not to commit any violations and create violence during elections to maintain peace. Nicor said let the voter choose freely whom to vote.

Pantar Mayor Jabar D. Tago welcome the guests and participants of the event on peace covenant signing held at Barangay Campong multipurpose covered court, Pantar, Lanao del Norte he is urging the barangay candidates to cooperate to make the elections credible and peaceful. 

Police Senior Inspector Mohammad E. Doro, Municipal Chief of police of Pantar, reminded to Barangay election candidates and reiterated the conduct of peaceful elections free from any violence.

Pantar Comelec officer Sania M. Macarambon same with Noronisa M. Mapangcat, Acting election officer of Balo-i, led the oath taking of the candidates for the honest, orderly and peaceful elections not to commit and employ violence during the elections on May 14, 2018.

Balo-i candidates signed peace covenant

Balo-i Mayor Madid Elias L. Ali had served for 30 years (broken) as Mayor of Balo-i, said that during the period of his term there was no killings in the Municipality of Balo-i during Barangay elections only in Lanao del Sur. Ali said that  Balo-i had turnover 50 loose firearms, the highest among other municipalities, to the 2^nd Mechanized infantry brigade, last May 2, 2018. He urged whoever will be the newly elected Barangay chairman will also turnover their loose firearms available after elections because it is a continuing program of President Duterte to put an end of the proliferation of loose firearms to attain and sustain peace. (Reports and Photos by Jun Enriquez, with reports by Salve Gimena)

2nd Mech Bde turn-in 535 loose firearms to win peace not war

L-R: BGen Budiongan, Col Dauz, Gov. Angging Dimaporo, MGen Murillo & Col. Ponio

Iligan City - Just 24 days ago upon assumption as commander of the 2^nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade by no other than  Col. Robert C. Dauz, Philippine Army, gathered a meeting of the chief executives from the 22 municipalities including the city of Iligan, at the brigade headquarter here on April 5, for an executive session to end the proliferation of loose firearms. Dauz said, it is their mandate and tasks based on existing rules and regulations especially on the Presidential proclamation number 216, declaring the state of martial law and suspending the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao. The martial law was extended until December 31, 2018.

Turned-in of loose firearms

On May 2, 2018, the Presentation of turned-in of loose firearms ceremony was conducted at the headquarter of the 2^nd Mechanized Infantry “Magbalantay” Brigade, Philippine Army at Ma. Cristina, this city. “Today is the 27^th day after my assumption of command, we are able to witness the turned-in of 535 firearms from the 18 municipalities and one city not included the ammunitions and explosives awaiting detonation of the disposal team,” said Dauz during the turn-in ceremony here. He added, “This ceremony is a manifestation of the response of the calling of the President to put an end of loose firearms.” The Mayors also attended the turned-in ceremony.

Dauz said, the turned-in represents 83 percent of the accomplishments composed of 18 municipalities and one city with the remaining 17 percent composed of four municipalities to follow, and urged those chief executives to expedite the process of loose firearms. He said, “we are a government we should work hand-in-hand.” He added, “we cannot wait forever and there is no forever.” 

Dauz said they will abide their sworn duty to provide peace at all cost.

He said they also agreed with Mayors to establish the “Kasabotan” park, means agreement, to plant different species of trees representing the turned-in of loose firearms and resembles the covenant of the Mayors of Lanao del Norte and Iligan City to end the proliferation of loose firearms in their area of responsibility. He said, “this reminds us that cultural and religious diversity should never be a hindrance to attain common understanding and common purpose.”

Col. Dauz, left, awarded a token to BGen Budiongan

The “kasabotan” park  is a joint project of the 2^nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army and the local chief executives of the province of Lanao del Norte and Iligan City, with purposes on their commitment to end the proliferation of loose firearms. Second, to create awareness among stakeholders in the significance of collaboration towards lasting peace. Third, help preserve the ecosystem and bio-diversity. Fourth, improve the landscape and aesthetics thereby adding tranquility in the camp. Lastly, encourage the future leaders particularly the youth for utmost concerned issues that affects the humankind, environment protection and peace towards development. Dauz ended in saying “let’s make a habit of making peace”

In her message, Lanao del Governor Imelda “Angging” Q. Dimaporo, said to possess gun is part of the culture of the Maranao use to protect their families especially in Muslim communities due to family feud called “rido.” She said most of the guns in the hinterland municipalities are not license but in the coastal municipalities mostly are license.

MGen. Murillo, right, received token from Col. Dauz

Dimaporo said, the 535 firearms turned-in from 18 municipalities will also reduce violence during the coming Barangay Elections expected in some parts of the province identified as hotspots but now the Comelec has not yet declared any of the Barangays as hotspots.

She said, the campaign to surrender loose firearms painstakingly affects the gunowners but this is a program of President Duterte to surrender loose firearms in all  of the Barangays to reduce if not prevent electoral violence. The provincial government of Lanao del Norte showed the support of the campaign by asking Barangay officials to surrender loose firearms presence in their barangay. There are four out of 22 municipalities in the province of Lanao del Norte were not able to surrender loose firearms but maybe still on process of looking for it.

“One gun one bullet will kill one life. Today there are 535 lives save at a minimum by making to turned-in the 535 firearms.” said Major General (MGen) Roseller G. Murillo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Commander, 1st “Tabak” Division, Philippine Army. He added, there is an estimated of 2,800 loose firearms in the province of Lanao del Norte with a balance of 2,265 loose firearms to surrender,” Murillo said, it is not the numbers of firearms to turn-in but the important is to save lives. He said, the term turned-in is use because we are not enemies that’s why not to use the term “surrender.” The Mayors and Barangay chairmen were tasks to convinced their people to turnover their firearms. This will benefit the people to avoid killing especially during elections and live peacefully.

The attending Mayors of lanao del Norte

Murillo said killings will scare investors to put up their businesses in the localities. Economic security is very important for peace and development. He said Peacemaking is not a one day activity but it is a daily, weekly and monthly undertaking. “What we are doing now is a call for peace, a process of peace and peace in itself.” Said Murillo.

Major General (MGen) Gilbert I. Gapay, AFP, Commander, Mechanized Division, Philippine Army based in Tarlac, was the invited Guest of honor and speaker, represented by Brigadier General (BGen) Felicisimo P. Budiongan, AFP, Assistant Commander, Mechanized Division.

Budiongan said MGen Gapay was not able to come due to conflict of schedules. Gapay extended his congratulations to the Mayors of Lanao del Norte and Iligan City of winning the peace. Gapay and Budiongan  expressed their love of the province of Lanao del Norte including Iligan City and said “we are here of winning the peace.” They also expressed their congratulations to the 2^nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade headed by Col. Dauz together with the two battalion commanders, Lt. Col. Manalo and Valdez of 5^th and 4^th Mechanized Battalions, respectively.

Budiongan recalled during their Captain years, he was the Commander of the 52^nd light Armor company in year 2000 supporting the 402^nd Infantry Brigade here in this camp. The then Captain Gapay replaced Budiongan and later on the all-out-war in Mindanao brokeout on same year started in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.

In year 2015, the then Coronels Gapay and Budiongan returned back in Lanao del Norte and were assigned as the Commander and Deputy commander of the 2^nd Mechanized Infantry “Magbalantay” Brigade here, respectively. Cited the local chief executives before were the first generation of Mayors but now the local chief executives are mostly sons and daughters who are the second generation politicians.

Budiongan reiterated “we are here not to win the war but to win the peace.” He said “that’s why we deeply involved in “rido” settlement during our assignments in the 2^nd Mechanized Brigade.”

Budiongan said he will retire in the next three months and he will join the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) after his retirement in the military. He said on joining the TFBM is another chance to serve the people of Lanao del Sur where he started his higher academics in molding his life for good.

Budiongan said he was a student in the Mindanao State University (MSU), Marawi City for three years, 1979-1982, before entering the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) with the former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) “Bato” Dela Rosa as his contemporary. He said during the opening of classes at the height of Marawi siege in 2017, he insisted to open the enrollment of classes in MSU because if MSU will be lost Lanao del Sur will become nothing. He is ready to recommend to provide war tanks just to protect MSU if necessary. He said security is not the concern of military alone it is the concern of everybody. There must be cooperation among the stakeholders from the local government, Civil Society, academe, traditional leaders among others.

Budiongan said the turned-in of firearms ceremony is an opportunity to lessen the projected violence during the coming Barangay elections. He urged all stakeholders to continue the peacemaking that has been started by winning the peace through the whole of nation approach. (Reports and photos by Jun Enriquez, with reports by Salve Gimena)

EO 51 frustrates labor sector but continue fighting to end "endo"

Iligan City – End of contract, popularly known “endo,” is a monster to the Filipino workers, said Renato Magtubo, Chairperson, Partido Manggagawa (PM) and spokesperson of “Nagkaisa!” labor solidarity nationwide in a press release on Labor day celebrations, May 1, 2018.

The endo means job remained contractual even if the worker is working on a certain job which is permanent in nature vital to the operations. Magtubo said hiring of workers will course through the labor contractors or agencies to supply labor requirements to employers. Most of the contract will range from three to five months to avoid regular employment upon reaching six months based on the Labor code of the Philippines. Magtubo said, the security of tenure is at stake, a perennial problem of the Filipino workers from previous administrations. Magtubo said direct hiring by the principal employers should be imposed to address the problem the security of tenure of workers on regular positions.

The “Nagkaisa!” labor solidarity remembered the hopes of Mayor Duterte in his campaign during the 2016 Presidential elections, “Contractualization will stop the moment I become the President.” Consequently, in his first day in Malacanang, Duterte said to the businessmen, “Huwag na ninyo akong hintayin na mahuli ko kayo (Don’t wait me to caught you) because I will be unforgiving. You will not only lose your money, you will lose your pants.”

The “Nagkaisa!” presented the problem on “endo” to President Duterte in series of dialogues in Malacanang. Magtubo said, there were three meetings of dialogues held (February 27, 2017; May 1, 2017 and February 7, 2018) with the President. The labor groups also attended the Labor summit called by the Labor department. In the of dialogue-meetings, the President asks the labor groups to draft an Executive order (EO) for him to sign and was discussed in fifth drafts due to series of adjustments, to replace the Department order 174 that allows contractualization by the labor contractors.

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President Duterte signed EO 51 during the recent Labor day celebration in Cebu. Magtubo said the EO 51 is the product of the consultation between the DOLE, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Employers’ confederation of the Philippines (ECOP). Magtubo said it is a “win-win” formula of DTI that would legitimize labor contracting in all industries will regularize workers under the agencies  service providers. Magtubo said this will not address the problem on the security of tenure because as soon as the principal employer will cut their contract to agencies or contractors the workers will lose their jobs. He said this will not put an end on contractualization but instead promotes it.

Magtubo said “what we have proposed to the President is an EO that would bring back the norm of direct hiring as a policy of his administration in employment relations but open to labor contacting of some jobs and functions subject to consultations.” This type of EO would cure for the mean time the defects of present regulations contained in DO 174 and provide policy direction to congress, the senate in particular on laws that it will legislate in order to realize the PDigong’s promise to end contractualization of labor in the long run, said Magtubo. The draft EO of the labor solidarity was endorsed by the President to congress for legislation.

Presently, the “class conflict” between the employers and workers on labor contracting issue has shifted to congress after the EO 51 was signed by President Duterte. The House of Representatives has already approved their security of tenure measure under House Bill 6908 principally authored by Rep. Ting, chairperson of the Committee on Labor and Reps. Mendoza and Villarin of TUCP and Akbayan party-lists, respectively.

Finally Magtubo said, the Nagkaisa! labor solidarity will continue its fight against the ill-effects on the contractualization of labor and hopeful that President Duterte will issue directives to expedite the process to his “super majority coalition” in the Senate and House of representatives to act accordingly and put an end on contractualization of labor, a realization of his campaign promise.

The Federation of Democratic labor Organization (FDLO) is all-out-support to end contractualization because it is a threat to unionism, said Leonilo Ratilla, Executive Vice President, during the Labor day celebrations held at City Public Plaza freedom park, Iligan City. the PM-Iligan chapter, Sanlakas and other sectors also joined the Labor day march rally in Iligan City. (Reports & photos by Jun Enriquez)