Marawi BEI Train for May 2016 Polls
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By FRANK E. DOSDOS, JR and ALAN AMANTIAD
Iligan City, PhilippinesMarch 26, 2016
ILIGAN CITY - Members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) in the Schools Division of Marawi City went through a 2-day training session in preparation for serving in the May 2016 Elections last March 25 and 26 at Crystal Inn here.
It was gathered that the training program was organized and conducted by a Team from the Commission on Elections.
It reportedly dealt with the forms to be used and the reports to be generated concerning the elections and most importantly on the features and operation of the Automatic Counting Machine that will replace the PECOS used in previous elections.
Newsmen covering the activity reported that the training was disrupted in the morning as it appeared that the list of BEI Members submitted by Division Superintendent Mona Macatanong was the one used by the COMELEC Officer of Marawi City but the Provincial COMELEC Supervisor insisted that another list prepared by the ERB Member designated by the Regional Secretary of DepEd, ARMM should be followed.
Lanao del Sur COMELEC Supervisor Robert dela Pena warned that he would stop the training if any of the two groups are excluded from the training.
As a compromise, the teachers whose names appear on both lists of BEI members were allowed to undergo the training.
Macatanong declared to Media that she is the Division Superintendent of Schools who has the authority to assigned members of the BEI.
On the other hand, Anna Zenaida Unte, designated by the DepEd-ARMM Secretary John Magno, announced to Media that Mona Macatanong has no more authority as she had retired from the service effective October 2013.
The confusion stemmed from the change on June 8, 2011 of the Date of Birth of Mona Macatanong from October 14, l949 to October 14, 1951.
In a recent Notice, copy of which were distributed by Unte the Supreme Court ruled that the decision of the Marawi City Regional Trial Court granting the Petition of Macatanong for change of Date of Birth was highly questionable and directed the Court Administrator and the Bar Confidant to make appropriate study and investigation on the matter for the possible filing of administrative and criminal charges against Judge Gamor Disalo who conducted the special proceedings that resulted in granting Macatanong’s petition for change of date of birth.
On this regard, Unte asserts that only the designations to the BEI made by her are sanctioned by DepEd-ARMM and for Macatanong to insist that she is still the Division Superintendent of the Schools Division of Marawi City has no more legal basis. TNRS
