Last day of registration: Comelec to give 1,000 priority numbers

CEBU, Philippines - To ensure a smooth flow in today’s last day of voter registration, the Commission on Elections-Cebu City prepared 1,000 priority numbers for registrants.

Comelec north district election officer lawyer Marchel Sarno said there will be no extension for the registration as there was no re-solution from the Comelec en banc extending the October 31 deadline.

“Nag-prepare lang ‘ta og 1,000 numbers atong i-distribute early in the morning para maka-cut off ta og 5 p.m. pero once makita nato nga puwede pa ‘ta maka-accommodate og more, mo-accommodate gyud ta until 8 p.m.,” he said.

Sarno said the priority numbers would be used at the Comelec’s satellite registration booths in Robinson’s Cybergate situated near Fuente Osmeña Rotunda.

Registration is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sarno said they are expecting people to swarm the area at dawn to have the chance to be the first to finish the procedure.

He said they decided not to hold the last day of registration in their office since it cannot accommodate a huge number of people.

Both north and south districts will use four data capturing machines for faster transaction in the satellite registration.

Sarno said the office has been serving over 600 voters a week, adding that they have expected that the number would increase especially in the last week of registration.

Since October 26 to October 29, the office has catered over 4,000 registrants, he said.

Sarno reminded the registrants to bring valid identification documents such as clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation, employee ID, senior citizen’s ID, driver’s license, postal ID, student ID, passport, or any ID issued by the Professional Regulatory Commission.

Meanwhile, lawyer Ferdinand Gujilde, Comelec-Cebu election officer, said giving of priority numbers is the discretion of the election officers to ensure smooth flow of registration at the Comelec offices.

He asked registrants to follow policy and remain patient.

He reiterated the Comelec’s stand that there will be no more extension of the registration period as those who want to participate in the 2016 elections were given ample time to register. Registration started since May 2014.

Registration includes reactivation, updating and validation of registration of records, as well as the submission of biometrics data.

As of September 30 this year, Cebu recorded at least 2.5 million registered voters, a total of 109, 117 of which have yet to submit their biometrics records.

Under Republic Act 10367 or the Act Providing for Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration, voters who fail to submit the biometrics data will be deactivated from the voters’ list and not be allowed to vote. — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo and Michael Vencynth H. Braga/NSA (FREEMAN)