‘Dead men still on voters’ list’

MANILA, Philippines - Beware of the voting dead.

The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) made this warning yesterday after it found that the computerized voters’ list (CVL) included names of dead people.

In a letter to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Namfrel chair Corazon Bernardo said 18 Namfrel chapters reported the inclusion of at least 342 names of deceased persons in the CVL in Ilocos Sur, Mandaluyong, Guimaras, Malabon, Camarines Sur, Mountain Province and Aklan.

Namfrel chapters also found out that voters who have been abroad for the past six years are still included in the CVL for Mt. Province, Agusan del Norte, Southern Leyte and Mandaluyong.

“There are also twenty-six centenarian registrants from 12 barangays in Mandaluyong City,” Bernardo added.

Moreover, there are reports of CVL with missing information on birthdates and other important data. The names of registered voters were also not included in the list.

Bernardo called on the Comelec to advise the poll body’s local offices about Namfrel’s findings so that necessary corrections can be made.

“A clean and accurate CVL is important because it assures that only qualified voters are able to cast their votes,” Bernardo said.