Comelec suspends gathering of biometric data of voters

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has stopped capturing the biometric data of voters for the 2016 presidential elections.

In Resolution 9741, the Comelec suspended the procedure starting last Friday.

“The Comelec orders the suspension effective July 12, 2013, until further ordered to resume by the commission en banc,” said the resolution promulgated Wednesday night.

The poll body had opened its offices to voters who wish to validate their registration status and submit their biometrics data – digital photograph, fingerprint and signatures – last July 1.

The Comelec, however, deemed it necessary to give more time to the preparation for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections scheduled in Oct. 28.

The registration period for the synchronized elections is from July 22 to 31.

“This is in order to maximize the workforce of the offices of the election officers nationwide in the conduct of the registration of voters and listing of Katipunan ng Kabataan as well as for other preparatory activities,” the Comelec resolution said.

Records showed that 9,018,256 registered voters have yet to be processed for their biometrics data.

These voters are  at risk of being disenfranchised as Republic Act 10367 or the Act Providing for Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration mandates that voters without the digital data will not be able be to vote in 2016.