Comelec expects MILF members to sign up as voter registration opens

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expecting thousands of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members to register as voters during the nationwide May 6, 2014 to Oct. 31, 2015 registration of new voters.  

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said they are, in fact,  expecting no fewer than 3 million new voters to register in different parts of the country ahead of the 2016 synchronized local and presidential elections.

“We are expecting about three million voters to register during the period,” Brillantes said told Catholic station dxND here.

He said the country already has about 53 million registered voters as of last year’s simultaneous local, senatorial and regional elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Brillantes said all Comelec offices throughout the country will facilitate registration of voters during workdays starting May 6 until Oct. 31 next year.

“We expect more or less 56 million registered voters to participate in the 2016 electoral exercise,” Brillantes said.

Brillantes said the poll body is preparing for the “inclusion” in the country's voters' lists of MILF members that wants to participate in the elections of the first set of officials for the Bangsamoro political entity, which the rebel group and the government aims to establish before 2016.

“Those who are already 18 years of age should have themselves listed promptly to avoid hassles. There will be no extension of this registration process,” Brillantes said.

He said the Comelec will provide special attention to registrants with physical disabilities, the senior citizens, and those detained in jails undergoing litigation for various offenses.

The MILF, which signed with government last March 27 the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro, said guerillas 18 years old and above who have not participated in previous electoral exercises will come out to register as qualified voters in preparation for the first ever elections in the Bangsamoro core territory.

The Bangsamoro Transition Commission, which is comprised of mixed MILF and government representatives, and chaired by the rebel group’s chief negotiator, Muhaquer Iqbal, is now drafting the Basic Bangsamoro Law (BBL), the enabling measure for the creation of the Bangsamoro entity that would replace the ARMM.

The BBL will be submitted to Congress for enactment and, subsequently presented for approval, via a referendum, by voters in the proposed Bangsamoro core territory in early 2015.

Brillantes said the Comelec will strictly apply the Republic Act 10367, also known as the Act Providing for Mandatory Biometrics Voters Registration, in the forthcoming nationwide listing activity.