Comelec: Reclustering of precincts inevitable

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Elections may have to re-cluster all voting precincts if more than two million voters nationwide who were deactivated for having no biometrics data would be allowed to vote in the 2016 national and local elections.

Lawyer Ferdinand Gujilde, Comelec-Cebu election officer, said they had already finalized on Thursday clustering for the province.

“If the injunction (granted) by the Supreme Court would be made permanent, meaning di gyod ipa-deactivate katong way biometrics, we will recluster everything. Back to zero gyod ta,” he told reporters, adding that it took Comelec 14 days to complete the clustering process.

Under Republic Act 10367 (An Act Providing for Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration), those who fail to submit their biometrics data with Comelec would be removed from the voters’ list.

As of October 31, Cebu recorded a total of 2.6 million registered voters. Of the number, 74,110 (2. 76 percent) did not have biometrics data with Comelec.

The province also has a total of 3, 019 clustered precincts. The fi-gure does not include yet that of Dalaguete, Toledo City, and the north and south districts of Cebu City as election offices there still have to submit their lists.

The Supreme Court earlier issued a temporary restraining order against Comelec’s “No Bio, No Boto” policy, directing the poll body to “desist from deactivating registered voters without biometric information.” The policy required voters to register their biometrics data before they are allowed to vote in the 2016 polls

Gujilde, though, said there is actually nothing to stop now since deactivation has been done already prior to the issuance of the TRO.

The SC asked Comelec and the Solicitor General to submit their comment within a period of 10 days from notice.

On the other hand, Gujilde said a would-be candidate still has five days, or until December 10, left to file for substitution for the 2016 elections.

He clarified, though, that only candidates nominated by the same political party can substitute a candidate.

Section 19 of Commission on Election Resolution 9984 states that the substitute should belong to and should be nominated by the candidate’s party.

Gujilde cited the case of former Cebu Provincial board member Bienvenido Gonzalez, who was the first to file for substitution, replacing one Rheamae Paran.

An aspirant may still be substituted for the reason of death, disqualification, or withdrawal. — Michael Vencynth H. Braga, Kristine B. Quintas/RHM (FREEMAN)