Bohol map. INQUIRER FILES
TAGBILARAN CITY 鈥� A lawyer and candidate for representative of Bohol鈥檚 first district has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to reassign the province鈥檚 election supervisor.
In his letter addressed to Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia on March 25, lawyer Jordan Pizarras聽said Bohol Provincial Election Supervisor Eliseo Labaria had occupied the position since 2010, raising concerns about impartiality in the upcoming elections.
鈥淐omelec should consider reassigning him to another post,鈥� Pizarras said, stressing the importance of neutrality in the electoral process.
Pizarras urged the Comelec to uphold its mandate to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections by transferring Labaria.
He suggested a reassignment or position swap with lawyer Jerome Brillantes, the provincial election officer of Cebu, or another suitable official.
鈥淭he power of the Comelec to reshuffle election officers is an inherent part of its constitutional duty. It serves to reinforce the integrity and fairness of the electoral process,鈥� Pizarras said.
Labaria has yet to issue a statement on the issue. The Inquirer tried to call and text him but he had yet to respond.
Pizarras cited the Omnibus Election Code which authorizes Comelec to transfer personnel to enhance efficiency.
He also highlighted Section 44 of Republic Act No. 8189 or the Voter鈥檚 Registration Act of 1996 which limits the tenure of election officers in a specific city or municipality to four years, mandating their reassignment to a different congressional district thereafter.
鈥淭his provision exists to safeguard the neutrality of election officers and to prevent undue familiarity with local political figures,鈥� Pizarras explained.
鈥淲hile it explicitly pertains to city and municipal election officers, the same principle should logically apply to provincial officers,鈥� he added.
Pizarras said reassignments are crucial for preventing potential bias between election officials and political candidates, addressing service demands efficiently, and ensuring impartiality in the electoral process ahead of elections.
Pizarras pointed out that aside from a brief reassignment to Negros Oriental in 2023, when Labaria temporarily switched roles with Eddie Aba during the barangay elections, Labaria has remained in Bohol for over a decade.
He warned that keeping Labaria in his position could lead to perceptions of bias in favor of incumbent officials.
If the Comelec declines his request, Pizarras is prepared to file a petition before the Supreme Court to force the election supervisor鈥檚 reassignment.
Pizarras is running against reelectionist Edgar Chato, former mayor Baba Yap, and Marybelle dela Serna.
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