• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The 661 support staff of the Commission on Elections who rendered poll duty during the October 2023 synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataaan elections in Kabankalan City, have been assured of payment by Mayor Benjie Miranda, as long as there is “legal basis.”
Miranda yesterday confirmed that he received the documents from the Comelec Negros Island Region on August 2, that could serve as the legal basis for the local government unit to release funds for the Comelec support staff who went on poll duty in 2023.
The support staff were supposed to be paid P5,500 each, but it turned out their hiring was not authorized by the Comelec central office.
Miranda said the city government is willing to allocate funds for it even before, but they had been looking for a legal basis to do so.
The mayor said Comelec legal opinion is now being studied by the City Legal Office.
Should it be recommended by the CLO, Miranda said they may appropriate funds for it.
Miranda said he agrees with Comelec NIR regional director Lionel Marco Castillano of paying the Comelec support staff, as they helped in the conduct of 2023 BSKE polls.
There are also 221 other Comelec support staff in Himamaylan City, who were also not paid their honoraria. However, Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson could not be reached for a comment as of press time.
Hopefully, the LGUs could help us with the payment, because they actually served during the BSKE elections, Castillano said, apparently referring to the hired support staff.*
