ATTY. Jordan M. Pizarras, a congressional candidate for Bohol’s first district under the Aksyon Demokratiko party, has escalated his call for electoral impartiality by filing a petition for mandamus before the Supreme Court.
The petition urges the High Court to compel the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to enforce existing laws mandating the periodic reassignment of local election officers.
This legal move follows Pizarras’ earlier request to the COMELEC to reassign Bohol Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Eliseo Labaria, who has held his position since 2010.
Pizarras contends that Labaria’s extended tenure may compromise the neutrality essential for credible elections. He suggests that COMELEC consider reassigning Labaria to another post to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
In his Supreme Court petition filed on April 10, Pizarras emphasized that the Constitution mandates COMELEC to ensure “free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections.” He cited Section 44 of Republic Act No. 8189, which stipulates that no election officer shall serve in a particular city or municipality for more than four years.
Additionally, he said Section 56 of the Omnibus Election Code allows COMELEC the authority to make changes in the assignment of its field offices. Pizarras argued that enforcing these provisions is crucial to maintaining the impartiality of election officers and, by extension, the credibility of the electoral process. He asserts that the Supreme Court’s intervention is necessary to ensure that COMELEC fulfills its constitutional duties. (PR)
