Comelec exec: PPCRV poll watchers a priority inside small precincts

DUMAGUETE CITY – The head of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Oriental said they will give priority access to volunteers and poll watchers of the Diocesan Electoral Board-Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (DEB-PPCRV) inside certain polling centers during the May 13 midterm elections.

Provincial Election Supervisor lawyer Eliseo Labaria told the DEB-PPCRV on Tuesday that its poll watchers will be prioritized in polling centers located at barangay halls, health centers and daycare centers.

Labaria explained that not all watchers can be accommodated but PPCRV volunteers will be given priority over other poll watchers of political parties or candidates inside these smaller voting centers compared to the usual voting centers in classrooms in the different pre-identified schools.

The Comelec official, meanwhile, commended the Diocesan Electoral Board of the Diocese of Dumaguete for its active participation in fielding thousands of volunteers, saying that the conduct of the upcoming national and local polls in the province will be a lot easier with volunteers coming from citizens’ arms such as the PPCRV.

“Kaning citizens’ arm dire sa Negros (Oriental) organisado kaayo ug daghang volunteers ug tanang lungsod nay participation (the citizens’ arm in Negros Oriental is organized with plenty of volunteers in the different towns and cities),” he said in an interview with reporters.

Labaria was among the speakers during the one-day Trainers’ Training for parish coordinators, who in turn will echo the information, rules and policies to the different volunteers in the parishes of the Diocese of Dumaguete.

Speaking to around 210 participants, Labaria pointed out the do’s and don’ts for volunteers especially inside the polling centers.

The Comelec executive told the volunteers about what violations should be observed, noted, and reported, highlighting the different forms of vote-buying.

He also he led in the demonstration of the automated Vote Counting Machine (VCM) to be used in the elections. The participants were given hands-on training on the use of the VCM.

Meanwhile, Dumaguete Bishop Julito B. Cortes thanked the DEB and the volunteers for their commitment to serve in the elections for free, considering that political candidates and political parties are paying their own volunteers.

Cortes called on them to not lose hope and be discouraged in the face of trials and adversity, emphasizing prayer in times when the political landscape changes.

The Dumaguete prelate led the volunteers in their Pledge of Commitment, the lighting of candles and singing of “One Little Candle” and “Prayer of St. Francis” prior to giving them his blessings.

For his part, DEB lead convenor Msgr. Julius Perpetuo S. Heruela reiterated that around 5,000 to 6,000 volunteers will be fielded during the May 13 polls.

A similar training was held over the weekend for volunteers in the nearby island-province of Siquijor, which is part of the Diocese of Dumaguete.

Heruela disclosed that there will be other training activities soon on incident reporting and the gathering of Election Returns, among others.