Comelec urged: Probe flying voters in Pasay, Manila

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has been urged to look into the complaints about the presence of flying voters in Manila and Pasay City amid the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.

The appeal was made by Yok Tin So, of Barangay 97 Pasay, and Domingo Vacal and Ramon Cheng, chairman and councilman, respectively of Barangay 269 in Manila.

In a letter to acting Comelec chairman Al Parreno dated March 19, they said the poll body should act on their complaints to ensure clean elections on May 14.

“While criminal cases had been filed against these flying voters before the prosecutor’s office of Pasay and Manila, the Comelec should conduct its own investigation,” they wrote.

The complainants, represented by election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, also asked the Comelec to designate non-government organizations to conduct house-to-house visits to determine the existence of flying voters.  

So complained that there are 1,458 flying voters in Barangay 97 in Pasay City.

So said 275 of them gave fake addresses, including LRT stations and non-existing or abandoned buildings.

Meanwhile, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) asked candidates in the barangay and SK elections to refrain from campaigning this Holy Week.

PPCRV chairman Rene Sarmiento appealed to the candidates to respect the solemnity of Lent. – Edu Punay