Samson, G. C. (2019). The "Free Vote" of the indigenous peoples in barangay Bitaugan, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur (Unpublished master's thesis). Public Management Development Program, Development Academy of the Philippines.

Public Management and Development Program Senior Executive Class Batch 7 Thesis (SEC)--Development Academy of the Philippines.

In March 2013, Provincial Election Supervisor Geraldine C. Samson (PES Samson) learned one member (Educator) of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) that not all of those who voted in Barangay Bitaugan (Bitaugan), Municipality of San Miguel (San Miguel), Province of Surigao del Sur (Surigao del Sur) registered voters and those who voted did so for the choices of the rebels. This discovery was passed on in January 2018 during a Regional Coordinating Conference for the 2018 BSKE to PES Ernie F Palanan (PES Palanan) as a challenge to introduce intervention on the voting plight of Bitaugan registered voters are Lumads. Put forth what the fact that the purpose of elections is ruined because the Lumads succumbed to fear for their lives culture both is already influenced by the biased choice of the tribal leaders. These left two important questions as follows: (1) How can the behavior of Bitaugan Lumads be changed towards valuing their votes and respecting the electoral processes? and, (2) What must the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) do to free Bitaugan Lumads from the undue influence and intimidation off the rebels in voting? Hence, on 05 March 2018 a specialized voters' education was conducted in San Miguel which was overwhelmingly attended by over five hundred Lumads. Here, the focus not on the process of voting but on the value of each vote to governance and development. Weeks before election day, the military conducted series of military operations and visibility in Bitaugan to deter rebel movements therein which would influence Lumad voting. A qualitative look of the results of the interventions introduced in the 2018 BSKE changed the behavior of the Lumad electorates. The voters' education yielded radical improvement on how voting should be viewed and exercise but the military presence only lessened pressure from the rebels. The solutions though were anchored on the phronetic leadership of PES Palanan and Lt. Col. Xerxes A. Trinidad (Col Trinidad). This was so because COMELEC being highly centralized, the field employees perform duties in accordance with the letters of COMELEC issuances. All planned changes are anchored on written policies and procedures. Unique and / or emergency situations in the field, however, call the initiatives to realize unplanned changes. This is what PES Palanan and COL Trinidad did which gained a short term for win for Bitaugan Lumads and which left the question: How must the gains be sustained to ultimately institute change? This is the center of discussion in the Teaching Note. Talked about was what can the COMELEC do to ensure "free" voting of Bitaugan Lumads. Ultimately, some short and long term solutions on the voting exercises abuses were suggested. The analysis of the management case at hand is aided by the Eight Step Process for Leading Change of John P. Kotter's Change Management Framework. The first six steps are discussed along with the facts of the case, while the last two steps are set out alongside the Teaching Note. The discussion though is limited to the fact that Bitaugan Lumads had been voting in Clustered Precinct No. 06 covering established precincts numbered 25A, 25B, 26A, and 27A for the choice of the rebels under pain of violence or death. This was discovered in March 2013 by PES Samson. The interventions, specialized voters' education and the military visibility and series of operations, though were introduced by PES Palanan in March 2018 and by Col. Trinidad in April to May 2018 for ensuing Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). Helping them were the Philippine National Police, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives in the legislative councils. Majority of the casts were one in saying that the most effective solution is educating the Lumads. Presently, in Surigao del Sur, there are Indigenous peoples Education (IPED) schools which are especially designed by the Department of Education (DepEd) for the Lumads so that their culture will be preserved. This is bringing legitimate education to the tribal communities. However, the effect of education is not immediate. Hence, the following immediate and short term solutions: 1) The conduct of actual survey amongst Lumads in Bitaugan on the vulnerability, literacy, faith in elections and governance, political awareness, trust in the assistor system in voting, and the like. These will serve as guiding data on how to approach a particular Lumad community for purposes of voters' education and how voters' education materials are designed. Here, the NCIP and DepEd can be tapped; 2) appointment of additional member of the EB who will serve solely as assistor for the Lumads; 3) There must only be 400 voters per clustered precinct so Lumads will have more time to vote and ponder upon their choices; 4) Massive IP tailor - fitted voters' education giving emphasis on the importance of each vote in governance and development, on the importance of each vote in governance and development, and on the performance of a candidate in his official mandates, if applicable; 5) The establishment of a military camp or unit in the area. This ensures continuous visibility of the military in the area which would uproot rebel halfway camps and deter rebuilt presence therein; and, 6) The presence of media as deterrent for unlawful activities. Admittedly, the foregoing suggestions do not guarantee Bitaugan Lumads' free and meaningful voting comes 2019 NLE and beyond. It may even be met with the passive attitude of the Lumads themselves who do not give high regard to COMELEC because they see it as a passive audience on their sad plight. But if COMELEC will be able to send a message it is seriously pro-active in changing the political plight of the Lumads; undoubtedly, respect and cooperation will spring. Moreover, implementation wise, they mean high overhead expense. However, a short term when was already generated. The momentum must be taken advantaged of to be able to sustain it and ultimately institute an election management change to ensure the FREE VOTE of Bitaugan Lumads.