Voter registration still suspended in 'NCR Plus'
MANILA, Philippines — Voter registration in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces will remain suspended until April 11, the Commission on Elections announced on Monday.
The poll body said its offices in the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal will remain temporarily closed with the extension of the enhanced community quarantine in NCR Plus bubble.
“From April 5 to 11, 2021, voter registration will still be suspended in all Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs) in NCR Plus, as well as in the Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) in the main office and its satellite period,” the Comelec said in a statement on Monday.
PRESS RELEASE: COMELEC Offices in ECQ Areas To Remain Closed@jabjimenez @dirfrancesarabe pic.twitter.com/38PWRu6pCp
— COMELEC (@COMELEC) April 5, 2021
Issuance of voter’s certification in OEOs and Comelec’s main office Intramuros, Manila will remain suspended during the same period, it added.
For areas not under ECQ, voter registration will resume on Monday, April 5, and will run until Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. although issuance of voter’s certification is until 5:00 p.m.
Fridays are set for Comelec-designated disinfection day, in addition to any day as prescribed by the local government unit.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez assured the public that despite the physical closure of Comelec premises, they can still be reached through their official email addresses which may be accessed on its website.
“During this period, e-filing of documents may be done pursuant to the Comelec guidelines on electronic filing. Under Resolution NO. 10673, the Comelec will continue receiving, via e-mail, petitions, verified pleadings, memoranda, comments, briefs and other submissions, in PDF format,” Jimenez also said.
Last March 24, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said in a tweet that the poll body recorded 2.4 million registered voters. Voter registration is until September 30. — Kristine Joy Patag
Get the latest updates on the Philippines' preparation for the May 2022 national elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Main image by The STAR/Michael Varcas
Local executives are optimistic of peaceful elections on Monday in North Cotabato and Basilan provinces.
North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza says Saturday she is thankful to the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade of the 6th Infantry Division and units of the Eastern Mindanao Command in the province for supporting extensively the efforts of the Commission on Elections to ensure the safety of polling activities on Monday.
“We are also thankful to the Cotabato Provincial Police Office and the Police Regional Office-12 for their initiatives towards that goal. We are looking forward to a peaceful electoral exercise in our province on Monday,” Mendoza says. — The STAR/John Unson
Comelec names Director John Rex Laudiangco as the new spokesperson of the commission, replacing James Jimenez.
May 9, election day, has been declared a special non-working holiday.
In a proclamation released Thursday, President Rodrigo Duterte declared the holiday "to enable the people to properly exercise their right to vote, subject to the public health measures of the national government." — report from Alexis Romero
READ: Proclamation No. 1357 declaring May 9, election day, a special non-working holiday @PhilippineStar @Philstarnews pic.twitter.com/EvUUNb8Yuf
— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) May 5, 2022
The Bangsamoro police has mobilized 6,347 personnel to guard 1,195 polling sites in five provinces under its jurisdiction.
Brig. Gen. Arthur Cabalona, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, says Thursday the contingent includes 706 Reaction Standby Support Force and 405 Quick Reactionary Force personnel for deployment to Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces.
Tension has markedly been high in some towns in both provinces owing to the deep-seated political animosity among local clans.
Besides Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao also covers the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Lamitan, Marawi and Cotabato. — John Unson
The Commission on Election starts the distribution and conduct of the testing and sealing of the vote counting machines (VCMs) six days prior to the election day in the remote and far flung villages in Zamboanga City.
The early distribution of the VCMs was made with the authority of the Comelec central office following the recommendation of the local poll body here, says District 2 officer Atty. Stephen Roy Cañete.
“We asked permission and we were given the authority by the Comelec central office to start the distribution of the VMCs early. In case there will be glitches we still have enough time to replace the defective VCM,” Cañete says. — The STAR/Roel Pareño
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