No LGU employees should work in Comelec field offices

Party-list lawmakers are insisting that employees of local government units (LGUs) should be
prohibited from performing election-related duties in the Commission on lections field offices!
"#e want to ensure and preserve the integrity and independence of the Comelec$% &agdalo Party-
list 'eps! Gary C! (le)ano and *rancisco (shley L! (cedillo$ authors of +, -.// stressed!
(t the same time$ the authors underscored the necessity to provide additional personnel to the
Comelec in order to prevent the impairment of the capabilities and outputs of the field offices that will be
affected by the prohibition!
+, -.// is entitled "(n (ct prohibiting casual or regular employees of Local Government Units
(LGUs) from performing office functions in Comelec field offices$ providing for additional personnel in
Comelec filed offices$ and for other purposes!%
0he lawmakers recalled that Comelec 'esolution 1o! .2-./-3 promulgated on &arch 45$ /..2
absolutely prohibited employees of LGUs from performing election duties!
+owever$ they said$ the Commission revoked the mentioned 'esolution when it promulgated
'esolution 1o! .2-.67- on (ugust 8$ /..2 which allowed casual and regular employees of LGUs to
perform clerical9maintenance functions in the agency:s field offices!
"0he subse;uent 'esolution 1o! .2-.67- clearly undermines the independence of the
Commission as mandated by the Constitution$% the lawmakers pointed out!
0he 4863 Constitution prescribes that the Comelec should be an independent Constitutional body
tasked$ among others$ to enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an
election$ plebiscite$ initiative$ referendum$ and recall!
<n /..8$ they noted$ the Comelec again revoked 'esolution 1o! .2-.67- after it promulgated
&inute 'esolution 1o! .8-.777 on =une 8$ /..8 that prohibited casual and regular employees in Comelec
field offices!
"(lthough it is comforting to know that LGU employees are once again prohibited from
performing office functions in Comelec field offices$ it can be noted that the Commission may once again
reinstate the assailed policy and )eopardi>e$ yet again$ the integrity and independence of the
Commission$% the authors stressed!
0he Comelec Chairperson shall issue the necessary guidelines in the selection$ recruitment$ and
hiring of personnel$ and the nature and scope of their functions$ one hundred twenty (4/.) days after the
enactment of the proposed (ct!
0he amount necessary for the initial implementation of this (ct shall be charged against the
current fiscal year:s appropriations under the budget of the Commission! 0hereafter$ such sums as may
be necessary shall be included in the annual General (ppropriations (ct!
0he bill is now referred to the +ouse Committee on ?uffrage and lectoral 'eforms chaired by
'ep! *redenil "*red% +! Castro (/
nd
@istrict$ Capi>)! (7.) dpt
NR # 3605B
SEPT. 30, 2014