Poll bet seeks reassignment of election supervisor in Bohol

Local

A CONGRESSIONAL candidate in Bohol province is urging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to swap Cebu’s provincial election officer with Bohol’s long-serving election supervisor, arguing that the latter’s continued tenure could compromise the integrity of the upcoming polls.

Lawyer Jordan Pizarras, who is running for Bohol’s First District congressional seat under Aksyon Demokratiko, called on the Comelec to transfer Atty. Marchel Sarno, the Cebu provincial election supervisor, to Bohol to replace Atty. Eliseo Labaria.

He also suggested considering Atty. Jerome Brillantes, the Siquijor provincial election supervisor, or another qualified official for the post.

Pizarras made the request as part of his broader appeal to remove Labaria, who has held the post since 2010.

He said the long tenure of election officials in a single province could affect their neutrality.

“Comelec should consider reassigning him to another post,” Pizarras said, referring to Labaria, emphasizing the importance of neutrality in the electoral process.

He cited legal provisions, including the Omnibus Election Code (BP Blg. 881), which gives Comelec authority to transfer personnel for efficiency, and Section 44 of Republic Act No. 8189 (Voter’s Registration Act of 1996), which limits election officers’ tenure in a city or municipality to four years before requiring reassignment to another congressional district.

According to Pizarras, this rule prevents election officers from forming close ties with political figures, ensuring fairness in elections.

He argued that the same principle should apply to provincial election supervisors like Labaria.

"This provision exists to safeguard the neutrality of election officers and to prevent undue familiarity with local political figures,” Pizarras said.

“While it explicitly pertains to city and municipal election officers, the same principle should logically apply to provincial officers as well," he added.

Pizarras noted that Labaria had only briefly left Bohol in 2023, when he temporarily switched roles with Eddie Aba during the barangay elections in Negros Oriental.

With Labaria serving in Bohol for over a decade, Pizarras warned that his continued presence could cast doubts on electoral integrity.

If Comelec denies his request, Pizarras said he is prepared to escalate the matter by filing a petition before the Supreme Court to compel Labaria’s reassignment.(MyTVCebu)