Eleksyon 2022 task force formed by BARMM education ministry

The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MBHTE-BARMM) has launched its 2022 Election Task Force to ensure orderly and credible elections.

In a statement on Wednesday, MBHTE-BARMM chief Mohagher Iqbal said the election task force is in compliance with the Department of Education (DepEd), which calls for the establishment of the 2022 DepEd Election Task Force from regional, provincial, and city schools division levels.

“Let us stay neutral, remember that you have a right to choose your candidates, and just stick to the law and principle for us to have a clean, peaceful, and transparent in the near 2022 election,” Iqbal said.

“This launching is part of the memorandum between MBHTE and Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ensure the security and safety of our teachers who will serve for the upcoming 2022 election,” he added.

Iqbal said the task force will ensure that all MBHTE personnel are provided with adequate information, technical support, and legal assistance amid their duties as members of electoral boards on May 9 polls.

He noted that the task force will be composed of five groups or units: steering group, operations and legal support group, secretariat, call center monitoring database unit, and logistics and external coordination mobile unit.

“MBHTE legal officials oriented the task force on constitutional provisions, laws, and jurisprudence on electioneering and political partisan activity; participation and preparations for the 2022 polls; and political neutrality and learner’s participation in political partisan activity,” Iqbal stated.

Meanwhile, MBHTE Attorney IV Hamida Mantikayan reminded teachers and electoral board members that they are prohibited “to wear any election paraphernalia, give financial contributions for the benefit of a candidate or party, be a delegate to any political convention, and form groups or organizations for the purpose of soliciting votes.”

In March, DepEd created an Election Task Force Operation and Monitoring Center to assist public school teachers and personnel with their duties during the Eleksyon 2022.

The department said the creation of the ETF would help the Comelec ensure “free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible” national and local elections.—LDF, GMA News