Public urged to register for 2016 polls

SAN FERNANDO, La Union, Philippines – New and old voters were asked to ensure that their names are in the list of voters for the 2016 elections, not in the “Napolist.”

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said everyone is talking about the names in the list of Janet Lim-Napoles.

“Now let’s wait for that to be settled by the proper court and proper venue. For the meantime, the one list that voters should be concerned about is the voters’ list,”  he said. “They (voters) should make sure that they’re on it not out of it.” 

Jimenez said the voters’ list for the 2016 elections is undergoing cleansing to eliminate double registrants and to include new voters through the biometric registration.

“The registration is continuing and we are pretty well assured of a clean voters’ list by 2016,” he said.

The registration started on May 6, 2014 and will end in October 2015.

Jimenez said while those affected by the Napolist are shouting: “I am not in the list,” voters should be shouting: “I’m in the list, in the voters list.” 

Jimenez said that the pork barrel scam will be a critical issue for candidates in 2016.

“Everyone should be given a chance to prove the list (Napolist) wrong,” he said.

“At the end of the day, the voter has to be aware that this kind of thing seems to be existing and they have to take that into consideration when choosing who to vote for in the coming elections.”

Jimenez said politicians should always remember their positions are being held at the pleasure of voters.

“The pork issue should be a warning to politicians and to everybody that the more than 54 million voters are now awakened and enlightened,” he  said.

‘Take a leave, resign’

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes believes President Aquino should ask Cabinet members whose names were mentioned in the “Napolist” to take a leave of absence.

“(Aquino) should ask them to take a leave of absence to ensure a fair investigation of their case,” he said.

“They, being Cabinet members, would hinder an impartial inquiry because (they) still hold power. If they are proven innocent, they could resume their job. If they are guilty, they must be jailed too just like the other guilty officials.”

On the other hand, retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz said   these concerned Cabinet members should, out of delicadeza, submit a courtesy resignation, and it will be up to the President to accept it or not.

“That is the process of people who are observant of good morals and right conduct,” he said. – Jun Elias, Evelyn Macairan