Comelec weeding out fake voters for barangay, SK polls

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started verifying the voters’ list and weeding out “fake voters” in preparation for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in May.

 James Jimenez, Comelec spokesman, assured the public that the poll body is now going through the voter applications to ensure that only those qualified and legitimate are included in the official list.

He gave the assurance amid reports that 1,458 people using fake addresses in Pasay City have signed up as voters. Some reportedly used an address that, when traced, would lead to a station of the Light Rail Transit. There were also those who reportedly used the address of their barangay chairman.

Jimenez said the Comelec verifies the list of registered voters through the election registration boards in each city and municipality.

The public, he added, could also help in the verification process by filing a petition for exclusion to remove flying voters or multiple registrants from the voters’ list. However, the deadline for the filing of petitions for exclusion in the May polls ended last Feb. 2.

Jimenez pointed out that citizens’ poll watchdog groups could also help in verifying the list by assisting in processing the complaints or in bringing them before the Comelec for appropriate action.

 “The Comelec calls on its citizen partners or election advocacy groups to assist it in determining the accuracy of the details contained in the lists of voters, including addresses-on-record,” Jimenez said.

 A complaint alleging that 1,458 people using fictitious addresses were registered as voters was earlier filed with the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office.

According to Jimenez, cases of questionable registration are regularly being addressed by the Comelec on its own or in response to citizens’ complaints.

“Individuals with knowledge of possibly ineligible voters, whatever the reason for such ineligibility, can approach the Comelec citizen’s arms, such as the PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting),” he added.

He added that the term “flying voters” is a misnomer and could not be used yet “considering that there is no voting involved yet.” Those with questionable addresses on record cannot be accused yet of having multiple registrations.