‘Honest mistake’, says Himamaylan election officer on hiring 211 support staff for BSKE

The acting election officer of Himamaylan City admitted that his hiring of 211 support staff for the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election was an “honest mistake.”

Romeo Palma said he overlooked the last paragraph of Section 143 of Comelec Resolution 10924 that states that for purposes of the Oct. 30, 2023 BSKE “the hiring of support staff shall not apply.”

The hiring of support staff in previous elections was allowed.

The support staff were supposed to be paid P5,500 each or a total of P1.2 million in honoraria.

Palma said he is optimistic that the Commission on Elections will still pay the personnel hired during the election.

Dennis Ausan, COMELEC Western Visayas regional director, said the Himamaylan City COMELEC office has also been investigated for hiring support staff during the BSKE on October 30.

Ausan said the Comelec regional office investigation report on the hiring of the support staff in Kabankalan and Himamaylan has been forwarded to the commission’s central office and they are waiting for the action it will take.

Earlier, the Kabankalan City COMELEC had also hired 660 support staff and that their honoraria totaling close to P3.7 million had not been paid.

John Rex Laudiangco, the spokesperson of the poll body, said the COMELEC pledges to cover the honoraria of the 660 support staff who served in the BSKE in Kabankalan.

An investigation is ongoing to determine the administrative and or criminal liability of the COMELEC field officers involved in this incident, he added.

However, it is not known when the payment in Kabankalan will take place and if the Himamaylan support staff will also be paid by the Comelec.

Himamaylan Mayor Rogelio Tongson said the city government is willing to assist in paying the COMELEC support staff but needs to have the legal basis to do so.° (EYA)OMELEC field officers involved in this incident, he added.

However, it is not known when the payment in Kabankalan will take place and if the Himamaylan support staff will also be paid by the Comelec.

Himamaylan Mayor Rogelio Tongson said the city government is willing to assist in paying the COMELEC support staff but needs to have the legal basis to do so.* (EYAdiong)