Comelec, IBP renew deal to give teachers legal aid in 2025 polls
The Commission on Elections, led by Chairman George Erwin Garcia, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, led by Antonio Pido, signs a memorandum of agreement on Friday, Feb. 14, for the 2025 elections. (Photo by Dianne Sampang | INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) renewed on Friday their commitment to provide legal assistance for teachers who will face complaints for serving in the 2025 elections.
They did this by signing a memorandum of agreement for the preparations and conduct of the May polls.
According to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, providing legal assistance to teachers had been part of its partnership with the IBP for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
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“Serving in the elections is not their regular job. Because of that, it’s just right that the Comelec will have to find ways to provide all kinds of assistance for them,” Garcia said in Filipino in an ambush interview when asked about the importance of reiteration of agreement with the IBP.
“The IBP is a partner of Comelec, and therefore, we are partners in providing help to our teachers,” he added.
Garcia also said that providing legal assistance for teachers, or the electoral board (EB) members, should not just be limited to before and during the election day.
“There are many politicians who will lose their election bid and may get back at the teachers, the electoral board members. We want to guarantee that we will not leave the teachers alone,” Garcia said.
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Garcia recalled that cases were filed against some EB members in the 2023 BSKE. However, he said no one was charged and convicted by the poll body.
Further, Garcia noted that the teachers could avail of the legal assistance for free. He added that the poll body had the option to refer the teacher to the IBP or the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).
He mentioned that the IBP would activate its legal assistance desk in every municipality and city before the start of the campaign period for local candidates on March 28.
He also shared that the Comelec would sign an agreement with the PAO and the Department of Education to strengthen the legal assistance for the teachers.
An Act Rendering Election Service Non-Compulsory for Public School Teachers (Republic Act No. 10756) states that the Comelec may tap the assistance of the Department of Education’s non-teaching personnel and other government employees, as well as private school teachers, to render election-related services.
