Comelec to use biometrics in 2010 polls

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is in the process of training consular officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) abroad on the biometrics system that will be used to register voters for the 2010 polls.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the program is part of efforts to strengthen overseas absentee voting.

“We train these officials on how to use the data capturing machines to capture the biometrics of overseas absentee voters. We teach them how to get photographs, signatures, and thumbprints (of applicants),” he told The STAR.

Consular officials, Sarmiento said, are also being trained in the use of the voters’ search system to find out if an applicant is already registered.

He added that this system would help flush out double and multiple registrants from the voters’ lists.

The officials were also trained in the provisions of Republic Act 9225 or the Dual Citizenship Law.

Last week, Sarmiento and fellow Commissioner Lucenito Tagle held training for 38 consuls, consul generals, heads of missions and ambassadors at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco.

These officials represent DFA offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Chicago, Washington, Vancouver in Canada, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela, and Havana in Cuba.

Sarmiento claimed that during discussions, the primary concern aired by officials was the disparity in the voting rights of Filipinos with dual citizenships and immigrants and permanent residents in other countries.

Under Republic Act 9189 or the Overseas Absentee Voting Law, permanent residents or immigrants are required to execute an affidavit of intent to return and actually reside in the Philippines within three years from approval of their registration.

“If we can change this provision, I think more Filipinos will be encouraged to participate in our electoral processes. We’ll see what we can do about this,” Sarmiento said. 

The Comelec earlier had conducted similar training in Dubai for consular officials assigned in Middle East countries. Another seminar is going on in Rome for European nations.