By Noel Y. Punzalan
COTABATO CITY, (PNA) — Education officials are convinced the October 28 village polls here will be smooth, peaceful and orderly.
Jhonny Balawag, administrative officer of the Cotabato City Schools Division, said all the public school teachers are ready to serve while some have opted not to serve due to their relationship with most of the candidates.
“We need 987 teachers to man the polling precincts and we have a total of 1,200 teachers, so nothing to worry,” Balawag said, adding that based on police assessment the upcoming polls will be peaceful.
“I see no problem in the coming village polls because the Comelec is ready, the teachers are ready and everybody is ready
He said when necessary the teachers who volunteered not to serve for one reason or another are willing to serve in Maguindanao where about 900 teachers refused poll duties.
However, he said the city schools division will wait for the Comelec to make necessary recommendations.
In Maguindanao, about 700 policemen are ready to serve in lieu of the teachers.
Chief Supt. Noel Delos Reyes, police director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said his office is ready to serve.
“We already have policemen undergoing training for poll duties,” he said.