Comelec set to hear petitions for transfer of voters registration

CEBU, Philippines - The Election Registration Board is set to hear tomorrow all applications for transfer of voter registration including those of Cebu City Councilors Jun Pe and Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said that the application might be approved on the same day if there is no opposition. Castillano said the board will no longer entertain oppositions on the day of the hearing because based on their rules, all oppositions should be submitted five days before the scheduled deliberation.

So far, no oppositions have been received on the applications of both Pe and Alcoseba. Pe wants to transfer registration from the Cebu City North District to the South District where he is reportedly planning to run for councilor in the 2013 elections.

Alcoseba on the other hand applied for transfer in Carcar City where he is also planning to run for board member in the first district of Cebu Province.

Meanwhile, Castillano said it would be up for the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) where or not to order the concerned officials to resign from their present position as soon as their application for transfer is approved.

“Dili nana sa COMELEC, it’s for the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) now to decide. After ma-proclaim siya with regards to his qualification, DILG na mo-take charge.( it is not for the Comelec to decide, the decision is now with the DILG. After an applicant is proclaimed qualified for transfer, the DILG will take charge),” Castillano said.

He however cited a precedent wherein former Cebu City councilor Gabby Leyson resigned from the council when he ran for mayor in Talisay City in 2007 and Hilario Davide, III when he ran for Governor in 2010.  (FREEMAN)