SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police to see to it that teachers who will render poll duty in May are given maximum protection.

Gatchalian also urged the Department of Education’s Election Task Force to work with the PNP to ensure the implementation of security measures for teachers.

Over 300,000 teachers are expected to participate in next month’s polls.

The DILG and the PNP previously reported that 105 municipalities and 15 cities are considered as red areas or areas of grave concern and may be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections.

The poll body is verifying the PNP’s list.

“Ang mga guro ay ang ating frontliners sa pagpapanatili ng kaayusan ng ating halalan. Dapat nating tiyakin na mabibigyan sila ng karampatang proteksiyon mula sa anumang banta ng kaguluhan o karahasan sa araw ng halalan, lalo na’t buhay at kaligtasan nila ang nakataya alang-alang sa kinabukasan ng bansa,” Gatchalian said.