6 Nobyembre,2024 Miyerkules
No to Divorce!!!
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez
No to SOGIE bill
PM for any hospital discharge problem
Happy Birthday Rosita Belmonte-Jose more birthdays to come
Happy Birthday Jo Ephraim Lopez more birthdays to come
Deepest sympathy to the family of the late Jocelyn “Jo” Lising-Abelgas
Multiple registrants can vote
By J.Lo
“Multiple registrations won’t be removed; registration is retained even for double or multiple registrant… initial registration remains,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said while facing investigation and possible criminal suit, estimated one million double or multiple registrants still have chance to vote in May 2025 midterm elections.
Garcia said only “subsequent registrations” of multiple registrants will be removed from official list of voters.
“Person cannot be deprived of his right to vote, as stated in our Constitution,” he stressed.
According to Garcia, Comelec has identified around million double and multiple registrants following hearings conducted by Election Registration Board (ERB) from February until September.
He said those people, whether deliberately or not, decided to register as voters in another place instead of just transferring their registration. It’s suspicious that number of registrants in certain areas would unusually increase, prompting Comelec to investigate.
Garcia said double and multiple registrants are common in National Capital Region and various parts of Mindanao. Comelec will post list of double and multiple registrants nationwide on its website.
Poll chief stressed need for Comelec to purge voters’ list from double and multiple registrants to prevent those people from voting more than once.
ERB will also call double and multiple registrants to explain their side. Criminal charges will be filed against those found guilty of committing such election offense.
Garcia said Comelec would be able to identify all double and multiple registrants through Automated Fingerprint Identification System.
Meanwhile, Comelec has given assurance of enhanced benefits and protection for teachers who will serve in 2025 elections, ACT Teachers party-list said.
Former ACT Teachers party-list representative Antonio Tinio said they secured commitment directly from Garcia during dialogue at Comelec office.
Tinio said Garcia agreed to double the service credits for teachers from five to 10 days and extend five days of service credits to other government employees serving in elections.
Tinio said Garcia also committed to implement previously announced P2,000 increase in honorarium and work towards providing P1,000 transportation allowance for election day. Additionally, Comelec will streamline process for reimbursing legal and medical expenses of teachers.
He said dialog was attended by himself, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) national chairman Vladimer Quetua, ACT-NCR union president Ruby Bernardo and other education sector leaders.
“We welcome these concrete steps to protect our teachers… removal of digital signature requirement and assignment of two additional support staff per precinct will significantly ease their election day duties,” Tinio said.
Tinio said establishment of partnership between ACT election hotline and Comelec will further strengthen support system for teachers during elections.
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