• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Commission on Elections yesterday issued a statement that it is committed to pay the honoraria for the 660 BSKE 2023 support staff who rendered election duties in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
This was in response to the report of Mayor Benjie Miranda that 660 support staff hired by the Comelec in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, have not yet been paid their honorarium.
Miranda earlier said the Comelec in Kabankalan City asked for his help in paying the personnel who rendered poll duties, involving the amount of P3.7 million.
He added that Comelec admitted to an “honest mistake” in hiring the services of the support staff.
Due to this unprecedented incident, Comelec spokesman Atty. John Rex Laudiangco said the Comelec has taken the proactive step of paying the honoraria of all 660 BSKE 2023 support staff in Kabankalan City.
Laudiangco further said that each support staff is entitled to receive P5,500 as honorarium for the election services rendered.
On the other hand, he added that an investigation is now underway to determine the administrative or criminal liability of the Comelec field officers involved in the incident.*
