No extension of voters’ registration, Comelec maintains

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) stood firm on its decision not to extend the voters’ registration, but gave local election officers (EOs) the authority to decide if they will extend the registration hours today, the last day of registration.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista explained the poll body could no longer extend the filing period because it would gravely affect preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls on Oct. 31.

But he said the Comelec leaves it up to the discretion of the EOs to decide if the registration hours shall be extended, depending on the situation in their jurisdiction. 

Local Comelec offices are supposed to be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accept applications for registration and reactivation of registration. 

“We have to let the field people, who are actually on the ground, have the authority to make decisions since they know better what is happening in the field,” Bautista said yesterday after visiting the Comelec office in Pasay City.

The Comelec office in Pasay City was jampacked with deadline beaters and Bautista appeared resigned to this habit of Filipinos.

“I don’t think it will change easily. It’s already part of our culture to wait for the last day. Like during New Year celebrations, we know that it is dangerous to use firecrackers, but we still cannot help it,” he said. 

As of yesterday, around two million voters have signed up for the synchronized barangay and SK polls.

Bautista also expressed belief that the barangay and SK polls would be conducted as scheduled on Oct. 31, especially now that the constitutional convention (con-con) is out of the picture.

Bautista said he spoke with Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and the lawmaker informed him that the 1987 Constitution would be amended not through con-con but through constituent assembly (con-ass).

Congress shall convene as con-ass. 

Earlier, Bautista had recommended that the barangay and SK elections be synchronized with the holding of election for con-con delegates so that the government could save around P6 million.

He noted that even when he was looking at possible postponement of the elections, Comelec did not slow down preparations so the poll body is on track for the polls in October.