MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections Employees’ Union (Comelec-EU) on Tuesday, June 28, appealed for unity among their top officials after all 6 commissioners issued a memo criticizing Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista. 

In a statement, the Comelec employees said they “are deeply concerned that the infighting might adversely affect” preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October.

“At this very critical juncture, the Comelec-EU respectfully calls on the Honorable Commission en banc to come together and unite,” the employees’ union said.

The Comelec en banc is the 7-member commission sitting as a whole.

The Comelec-EU said it hopes that all 7 Comelec members will “be granted the wisdom and humility to focus on the principal mandate entrusted to them by the Filipino people.”

“For the Comelec-EU, the unity of the Honorable Commission en banc will assure the support and unity likewise of the rank and file, most especially the field employees, who will be working again toward a successful barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections,” the group said.

‘Neglected’ concerns of employees

They added that major concerns of Comelec employees had been neglected “because of the dispute.”

These concerns include the employees’ appeal for additional health benefits, which “has been pending for years” with the Comelec en banc. The Comelec-EU is also calling for “salary upgrading” and benefits for “job order casuals” in the central and field offices of the Comelec, among other things.

Given this problem, the Comelec-EU called on all Comelec employees “to simultaneously gather” on Thursday, June 30, “to pray for unity and harmony among our leaders for the sake of the country.”

The group said that field offices “may take selfies or hang streamers and posters outside their offices” to voice out their appeal. 

The Comelec-EU is also encouraging Comelec employees on Thursday “to take part in a Comelec-EU-led candle-lighting activity” during their lunch break, from 12 nn to 1 pm, in front of the Palacio del Gobernador Building in Intramuros, Manila. 

Guanzon, however, said it is not true that Comelec employees have been getting discouraged. She said Comelec employees, after all, “are used to these strong personalities becoming Comelec commissioners.”

Referring to previous Comelec commissioners, she said, “Dati nga sabi nila sa akin eh, talagang nagsisigawan sila dito, nagtatapunan pa sila ng ketchup.” (They even tell that before, they even screamed at each other here and threw ketchup at each other.)

She added: “Matatapang at malalakas ang sikmura ng mga Comelec employees namin lalo na ‘yung [nasa] field. Biro mo, hagisan ka ng granada, i-armalite ka diyan? Kayang kaya nila ‘yan. Ito lang? Kayang kaya nila ito.“

(Our Comelec employees, especially those in the field, are brave and have a strong gut. Imagine a grenade being thrown or an armalite being fired at you. They can take this. Only this? They can take this.)

‘Cordial, productive’ meeting

The Comelec-EU’s statement came as the Comelec held its first en banc meeting after media reported on the memo of all 6 Comelec commissioners criticizing Chairman Bautista. The 6 commissioners hit Bautista for his supposedly “failed leadership” in the poll body. 

Bautista, who had a hoarse voice on Tuesday, said of their en banc meeting, “It was very cordial and productive.”

Guanzon said they did not discuss the “failed leadership” issue during Tuesday’s meeting.

She said the issue still has no closure.

Referring to Bautista, Guanzon said, “Wala siyang boses, so I suppose we have to wait.” (He has no voice, so I suppose we have to wait.)

She pointed out that, for now, she and Bautista seem to be talking with each other only through the media. Recalling a recent radio interview, she said, “A commissioner told me that after I spoke on radio, the Chairman also spoke. So it seems we spoke but on a different plane.”

“So it’s very difficult,” she added. “Now I have to see what he said. It’s hard because you cannot fix working relationships that way.”

In any case, the Comelec commissioner said the poll body cannot just let this issue pass. “Hindi naman puwede siguro ‘yung sabi sa Tagalog, ibaon sa limot. Mas maganda po, pinag-uusapan.” (It cannot be that, as we say in Tagalog, we will just bury this in memory. It’s better if we talk about this.) 

Describing the state of the Comelec en banc, Guanzon said, “Parang sumisisid kaming lahat, and then patagalan ng hininga.” (It’s like we’re diving, then we see who can hold one’s breath the longest.) – Rappler.com