Photo by: Ferds Libor
By: Phil Pa-alan
Iligan
city – Two sets of Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) were allowed to attend
the Comelec training to prevent it from being suspended.
The win-win consensus was arrived by the
Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Department of Education (Deped) officials and trainors present during the
resolution of the controversy to prevent any trouble .
Originally
the City Comelec through Atty. Joyce Moran, City Election Officer recommended a
list of BEI’s to the Commission numbering two hundred fourteen (214) to undergo
Comelec training, but the other DepEd officials submitted a similar set of BEIs
to participate in the training.
Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Roberto Dela Pena who arrived at the training
venue noticed that the other set of BEIs was not allowed to attend the
training. He suggested that the other set of BEI’s be included in the training to avoid trouble.
A
caucus of the Comelec and Deped officials including trainors was conducted to
find a win-win solution to the controversy which allowed the other set of BEIs
to participate in the training.
Earlier,
PES Dela Pena said that if the other set of
BEIs is not allowed to participate in the training, he would suspend the
training and let the military take over.
The
original set of BEIs was recommended by
Atty. Joyce Moran. The BEI trainees were given room assignments for their training. Six(6) rooms where allocated for the training of 214 BEIs recommended by Atty. Moran.
The
list recommended by Atty. Moran was set of BEIs selected by the Supt.
Macatanong.
Photo by: Ferds Libor
Supt. Mona Macatanung
The
Comelec recognizes Supt. Macatanong as the official Schools Division
Superintendent of the Marawi City Schools Division.
Unfortunately,
Zenaida “Cheke” Alonto Unte also selected BEIs to participate in the Comelec
training on the belief that Superintendent Macatanong has long retired from the
service and that another school official had been designated as new
superintendent.
However,
the group of Zenaida Alonto Unte cannot
show official documents that Supt. Macatanong has officially retired.
The
Civil Service Commission still recognizes Supt. Macatanong as the incumbent
schools superintendent of the Marawi City School Division.
Supt.
Macatanong is slated to retire on October 18, 2016 when she reaches the
mandatory retirement age of 65.
Supt.
Macatanong stressed that Zenaida Unte had been issued a warrant of arrest for
violation of R.A 3090, otherwise known as anti-graft and corrupt practices act
for which she was suspended from office as assistant School Division
Superintendent for 3 months. She added that Unte is closely related to profile ARMM regional and provincial
candidates.
In a
media interview, Superintendent Mona A. Macatanong said that PES dela Pena has
defied the order of Comelec oubChairman
Bautista. She said PES dela Pena was directed by the Comelec chairman
to submit a report on the inquiry of the
City Schools Superintendent about the trouble regarding the interferences on
the BEI training. She said the BEI training was originally scheduled last March
1-4, 2016 then postponed the March 21-24, 2016 and finally rescheduled on March
25-27,2016.She said the postponement indicate political intervention in the affairs
of the Comelec.She said PES Dela Pena failed to answer the inquiry directive by
the Comelec Chairman.
The
BEI training was interrupted and resumed
after 3 hours following the adoption of the win-win solution t the other set of
BEIs to participate in the training.
During
the interruption, Macatanong tried to talk to PES dela Pena who , “I avoid
talking to anybody.”
Photo by: Ferds Libor
Atty. Joyce Moran
In a
media interview, Atty. Joyce Moran, City
Election Officer said that the two sets of BEIs were allowed to participate in
the Comelec training to prevent any trouble. However, she emphasized that the other set of BEIs will be classified
as sit in participants as they were not
included in the original list recommended to the Comelec head office. She also
stressed that anyone who questions the qualification of the BEIs should inform
the Comelec in writing so proper validation that can be conducted to determine
the qualified BEIs.
She said the
trainees included the chairmen and poll clerks. She added that the teachers who had undergone the
BEI training will be appointed to serve
as BEIs during election. She said it
would be up to the Comelec who will be
appointed as BEIs to facilitate the 2016 elections.
Atty.
Moran said the Comelec accommodated the other group of BEIs to be able to
participate in the training. She said
the win-win solution was arrived at by the Comelec and DepEd officials and
trainors to prevent any trouble.
Atty.
Moran said the Comelec recognizes Macatanong as the legal Superintendent of the
Marawi City Schools Divisions unless otherwise controverted or negated by hard
official documentary evidence.
Atty. Moran said some of the 214 recommended
BEIs failed to report for training for various reasons.
Photo by: Ferds Libor
ASDS Zenaida Unte
In a
media interview, ASDS Zenaida Unte said that she has personally selected the
teachers to attend the BEI training as a designated school official. She said
that Supt. Macatanong has long retired from the service and that she was
wondering why Macatanong is here in the venue. However, she has not shown any
documentary evidence that Supt. Macatanong has long retired from the service.
(with reports from Ric Clet and Jong Cadion.)
Photo by: Ferds Libor
