MANILA, Philippines - Anti-poll fraud group Kontra Daya on Thursday urged the Commission on Elections to extend the voter's registration for the Sangguniang Kabataan and barangay polls.
Kontra Daya lead convenor Father Joe Dizon said the poll body should not curtail the people's right to register and vote during the SK and barangay elections on October.
The prelate also said the Comelec must not reason out that the people who trooped to the last day of registration Wednesday were "hakot" or just brought in by barangay officials to manipulate the outcome of the polls.
Dizon pointed out that it is the job of the poll body to ensure that voter registration would be anomaly-free and orderly.
"Nanawagan ang Comelec na mag-register ang mga tao, ngayon dapat ang position ng Comelec diyan ay enthusiasm ng mga tao na bumoto at i-welcome 'yan na gusto ng tao na bumoto at hindi pagdudahan 'yung mga tao at i-accuse ng kung ano-ano.
"Granted na merong ganon, trabaho ng Comelec na aksyunan 'yun, pero walang karapatan ang Comelec na i-deprive 'yung napakaraming tao na gustong bumoto," Dizon told Church-run Radyo Veritas.
Meanwhile, poll watchdog Namfrel urged the Comelec to thoroughly review its list of voters.
There were reports that many of those in the list are not residents of the barangays they registered in, Namfrel secretary Eric Alvia said.
Alvia said the poll body has until August 31 to cleanse the list of voters.
Reports showed that 1.5 million people have already registered for the SK and barangay elections during the 10-day registration period.