MILF men expected to join voters’ listup

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines  – Thousands of members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are expected to register as new voters from May 14 this year to Oct. 31, 2015, the Commission on Elections  (Comelec) said over the weekend.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said they are expecting not fewer than three million new voters in different parts of the country for the 2016 local and presidential elections.

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

He said Comelec offices throughout the country would facilitate the 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.

The Comelec chief said the poll body is preparing to include in the voters’ lists MILF members who want to participate in the elections of the first set of officials of the Bangsamoro political entity.

“Those who are 18 years old should register promptly to avoid hassle. There will be no extension for this registration process,” Brillantes said.

He said the poll body would provide special attention to registrants with physical disabilities, the senior citizens, and detainees.

The MILF said guerrillas 18 years old and above who have not participated in previous electoral process would register in preparation for the first ever Bangsamoro elections.

Brillantes said the Comelec would abide with the provisions of Republic Act 10367, or an Act Providing for Mandatory Biometrics Voters Registration, during the registration of voters.