MANILA, Philippines – More than 100 employees of the Commission on Elections signed a statement of support for Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista, whom all 6 Comelec commissioners criticized for his supposedly “failed leadership” of the poll body. 

“We, the employees of the Commission on Elections, support the chairman of (sic) his leadership of the commission, and we will give our all-out cooperation in making the preparation of the barangay elections as well as make his administration successful,” the statement read. 

Rappler on Saturday, July 2, obtained copies of the same statement signed by at least 108 Comelec employees as of posting time. More employees are set to sign it soon, a source in the Comelec said.

This statement of support comes as the Comelec Employees Union (Comelec-EU) appeals for unity among their top officials. 

To stress this point, the Comelec-EU held a candle-lighting activity outside the Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila, on Thursday, June 30. 

Employees ‘deeply concerned’

Mac Ramirez, national president of the Comelec-EU, said the “principal purpose” of the candle-lighting activity was to call for unity.

In a Facebook post, Ramirez said a manifesto of support for Bautista was passed around during Thursday’s activity. He pointed out that the manifesto “was never from the union.”

In their statement on Tuesday, June 28, the Comelec-EU said Comelec employees “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 Comelec-EU said.

Tensions in the Comelec rose after all 6 Comelec commissioners issued a memo on June 3 criticizing Bautista for the way he has led the poll body.

Bautista and the 6 Comelec commissioners have not settled the issues raised in the memo as of Saturday. – Rappler.com