Comelec: Flying voters may still be out there

CEBU, Philippines - Election officer Edwin Cadungog admitted the possibility that there will still be flying voters in Cebu City following the Commission on Elections’ admission that its Information and Technology Department found over 700,000 voters with double or multiple registration records.

Cadungog, election officer of the Cebu City south district, admitted that they do not have the technical capability to detect flying voters especially if they are using another name to re-register.

“Technically duna gyuy posibilidad,” Cadungog said.

According to Cadungog, because of the lack of the necessary equipment that will aid in the identification of fingerprints, local Comelec offices cannot detect double or multiple registrants.

Cadungog explained that the fingerprint identification system would have been part of the Comelec modernization program for the coming elections but its contract was declared as null and void by the Supreme Court.

He said there are only two machines that are being piloted in Metro Manila.

“Kun morehistro og usab unya magdala og laing pangalan lisud gyud masakpan,” he said.

Cadungog said they are hoping to counter it by asking the candidates to hire watchers from the precinct where they will be assigned because more or less they are familiar who the registered voters in their precinct are.

The Comelec issued Resolution No. 8791 last week admitting that they found out about the 704,542 voters with double or multiple registration records using algorithmic matching.

The resolution, promulgated last March 10, resolved to abate the other registration records of voters found to have double or multiple registration records according to the provisions of the Omnibus Election Code.

The Comelec directed the Board of Election Inspectors not to allow the voters with multiple registration records to vote in their respective precincts in the May 10 elections.— Fred P. Languido/BRP (FREEMAN NEWS)