Senators on Tuesday expressed their gratitude to the “other winners” of the midterm elections – the teachers, police officers, soldiers, Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials, media workers, and volunteers – who helped ensure a safe, orderly, and credible vote.

As the counting of votes nears completion, Senator Joel Villanueva said the country owes much to the public servants who worked behind the scenes to safeguard democracy.

“We thank our teachers for serving as vanguards of the ballots; our police and soldiers for keeping order and peace; and the volunteers, including health personnel, for manning the frontlines and attending to voters’ various needs,” he said in a statement.

He also commended the Comelec for overseeing the electoral process from the start of the campaign period through the vote count, and the media practitioners for their swift and reliable reporting throughout the election season.

“We trust our poll body will never run out of steam as it deals with pending and upcoming protests and in scrutinizing candidates’ spending reports,” he added.

In a separate statement, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian underscored the indispensable role of teachers in both education and democracy.

“Maliban sa paghubog sa susunod na henerasyon ng mga Pilipino, ang ating mga guro rin ang maituturing na frontliners sa pangangalaga ng ating demokrasya (Aside from shaping the next generation of Filipinos, our teachers can also be considered frontliners in safeguarding our democracy),” he said.

“It is crucial for the Commission on Elections to ensure that teachers who served as poll workers receive their honoraria on time,” he said, adding that teachers deserve “the highest recognition from the entire nation” for their dedication and service. (PNA)