Let 4 M new voters register — Loren

Sen. Loren Legarda has proposed to amend Republic Act 8189 or the Voters’ Registration Act of 1996 to enable some four million new voters to register within the prohibited 120-day period and participate in the May 14 elections.

The measure would be considered in the special session proposed by President Arroyo to enable the potential new voters to re-gister and vote in the elections. These persons failed to participate in the regular registration last Dec. 27 for lack of information by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Earlier, the Comelec denied the request of various sectors for a two-day special registration because RA 8189 prohibits any registration 120 days before the regular election.

Mrs. Arroyo said that an amendment of the law is needed so the youths would not be disenfranchised. She stressed that a new registration day would be in consonance with "the spirit of EDSA II which the youth spearheaded."

Former Press Secretary Ricardo "Dong" Puno Jr. said that the government should mount an intensive information drive nationwide if a special registration is held.

"And because it needs all the help it can get to mount such a nationwide campaign, the Comelec should tap volunteer groups such as media entities and nongovernment organizations to inform the public about such a special registration of young voters," Puno said.

He also dared Malacañang to persuade Congress into holding a special session to amend RA 8189 to enable new voters to register.

"Such an effort will be a litmus test of the new administration’s political mettle, considering that Malacañang officials themselves doubt whether Congress can muster a quorum at this time when most of the lawmakers are already busy campaigning for the May 14 polls," Puno added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Luisa "Loi" Ejercito said that the proposed special session should also consider the measure on absentee voting.

Ejercito, an opposition candidate for senator, lashed at the President for keeping silent on allowing seven million overseas Filipinos to vote in the coming elections.

"I challenge Mrs. Arroyo to certify the Absentee Voting Bill when the special session that will meet to discuss the special registration day takes place," she said.

Then-Sen. Raul Roco, as chairman of the Senate committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, had reported out a consolidated measure on absentee voting before assuming his post as education secretary.

Dr. Ejercito said that the voting rights of seven million overseas Filipino workers are as important as those of the four million youths asking for a special registration day.

"President Arroyo should also speak vigorously for the seven million OFWs as well as she speaks for the four million still unregistered voters," she said. –Efren Danao