Registration, Transfer of Voters in City's 1st District: Today is last day for filing of opposition

The Commission on Elections has announced that today is the last day of filing of opposition against applications for registration and transfer of voters in the first district of Cebu City.

Any opposition would be addressed immediately by setting a hearing before the end of the validation period, City election officer Simaco Labata said.

Pursuant to Section 17 of Republic Act 8189, otherwise known as the "Voters Registration Act of 1996" and Section 35 of Comelec Resolution No. 2904, all application for registration or transfer of voters shall be set for hearing.

The opposition may be filed on or before January 9 at the Comelec office located at Room 104 WDC Building Osmeña Boulevard.

Under the law, any candidate or registered political party may challenge in writing any application for registration, stating the grounds. The challenge shall be under oath and be attached to the application, together with the proof of notice of hearing to the challenger and the applicant.

On the date of the scheduled hearing, Labata said the election officer should receive such evidence for or against the applicant.

A registrant whose application has no objections need not appear on the date set for the hearing of his application. However, physical presence of the applicant shall be mandatory in all cases where objections against his application have been seasonably filed with the proper Election Registration Board for him to rebut or refute evidence presented.

Labata said the complete listing of the applicants from October to December 2005 is already available at the Comelec and at the Cebu City Hall. - Garry B. Lao