Comelec reassignment of Bohol provincial election supervisor sought

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rapplerAds.displayAd( "mobile-middle-1" );Lawyer Jordan Pizarras, a congressional candidate for the first district of Bohol, has filed a petition with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) requesting the reassignment of Bohol Provincial Election Supervisor Eliseo Labaria to another location.Pizarras, who is running under Aksyon Demokratiko, expressed concern over Labaria’s tenure in the position since 2010, raising questions about impartiality in the upcoming May 12, 2025, elections.



“Comelec should consider reassigning him to another post,” Pizarras said, emphasizing the importance of neutrality in the electoral process.In his letter, Pizarras urged Comelec to uphold its mandate for a free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible election by transferring Labaria.He suggested reassigning Labaria or swapping him with lawyer Jerome Brillantes, the provincial election officer of Cebu, or any other qualified official.

“The power of Comelec to reshuffle election officers is an inherent part of its constitutional duty,” Pizarras argued. “It serves to reinforce the integrity and fairness of the electoral process.”He cited the legal basis for his request, referring to the Omnibus Election Code (BP Blg.

881), which authorizes Comelec to transfer personnel to enhance efficiency.He also highlighted Section 44 of Republic Act 8189 (Voter’s Registration Act of 1996), which limits the tenure of election officers in a city or municipality to four years.“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 stressed that reassignments are crucial in preventing possible bias between election officials and political candidates, ensuring fairness in the upcoming elections.Pizarras also pointed out that aside from a brief reassignment to Negros Oriental in 2023 – when he temporarily swapped roles with Eddie Aba during the barangay election – Labaria has remained in Bohol for over a decade.

He warned that Labaria’s prolonged stay in his position could be perceived as favoring incumbent officials in the district.If Comelec denies his request, Pizarras said he is prepared to escalate the matter by filing a petition with the Supreme Court to compel the reassignment of Bohol’s provincial election supervisor. – Rappler.

comThis article is republished with permission from Sun.Star Cebu as part of a content-sharing partnership for the 2025 Philippine elections..