Comelec slams door on squatters

Residents in several squatter colonies in Metro Manila are allegedly being turned away by local Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices, denying them an opportunity to register for future elections.

In a press conference, Partylist Rep. Mario Aguja (Akbayan) said yesterday that tens and thousands of new and old voters "will be disenfranchised if it is true that there is a Comelec resolution or an instruction from the Chairman not to register the urban poor."

The lawmaker received reports a few days ago that voters from Barangays 73 and 74 of District II in Caloocan City were barred by the local office of the Comelec from registering allegedly because they were illegal settlers.

When Aguja’s office inquired with the election officer of District II in Caloocan City, they were informed the policy against the registration of first-time voters from squatter areas is based on a resolution of the Comelec en banc and a verbal order from Chairman Benjamin Abalos himself.

Likewise, when Aguja’s staff conducted a quick survey of the new policy in various cities and municipalities in Metro Manila, it was learned that districts in Caloocan and Pasay have also implemented the "discriminatory" policy.

In other areas, such as Manila and in Marikina, the implementation of the policy has not taken off yet, pending the release of an official memorandum from the Comelec’s head office.

The election officer of Marikina said such a policy was vital because allowing squatters to register would only result in legitimizing the illegal occupation of private and public properties.

Other areas have opted to impose stricter requirements. Instead of asking for a valid ID with the voter’s complete address and picture, first-time voters are being asked to present a clearance from either the National Bureau of Investigation or the police.

In Taguig-Pateros and San Juan City, voters are being asked to provide a certification that they have the consent of the homeowner of the land they are occupying.

"We are in possession of all registration-related Comelec resolutions and there is no mention at all of any prohibition against voters residing in so-called squatter areas," Aguja said.

He added that anti-poor registration policy is also a violation of Comelec Resolution 6294, requiring a six-month residency period prior to the election year.

The solon said he has sent letters of inquiry to Abalos.

Several barangay officials and residents affected by the new policy also attended yesterday’s press conference and narrated how they were turned away by the local Comelec office "simply because we were squatters."

They added that the Comelec office in Caloocan City even posted a sign at the door which read: "Bawal ang squatter."

Only a few areas, such as Quezon City, Valenzuela, Malabon-Navotas and Mandaluyong gave their assurance that local Comelec offices are not implementing such registration policies.

Aguja called on his colleagues in Congress to conduct an immediate investigation into the seeming anti-urban poor policy. "This policy is discriminatory, unlawful, unconstitutional, and only reinforces the marginality of the majority of our people," he said.

The solon added: "It is urgent and necessary for the Comelec to clarify their stand on this confusing issue. There is already a strong perception among urban poor first-time voters that they will be unable to vote in the forthcoming elections."

The registration and validation of voters started last Aug. 1 and will end on Oct. 30.

Policy Of Relocation

Comelec-NCR director Ferdinand Rafanan confirmed yesterday that the poll body has decided to strictly require new voters to be "bonafide residents" of the place where they are voting.

As such informal settlers will not be allowed to register while those relocated squatters who have registered in the past will be excluded from the list of voters.

According to the National Statistics Office (NSO) survey for 2000, there are 726,908 squatters in Metro Manila alone but those of voting age among them could not be immediately determined. The next NSO study will be conducted in 2005.

"It is the policy of the Commission. It is in consonance with the government’s policy of relocating squatters. Squatting should not be tolerated," Rafanan said.

He said, however, that these informal settlers could still register and vote in their respective provinces where they have actual residence.

"This is not anti-poor but this is what the law says. This will be better for them. They can be relocated in the provinces where they can survive and live with dignity," he said. "We are just applying the requirement of the law that voters should be bonafide residents."

Rafanan said a squatter may be allowed to register provided he can show valid proof of residency. These include electric, telephone and water bills.

Rafanan said that their policy now is that whenever there are new registrants, we ask them if they own their home. If not, are they renting? And if not, do they have permission from the owner to stay on the property?

"How can you claim to be a bonafide resident if you cannot positively answer any of these," he said.

Rafanan said there is a danger in allowing new squatters to register since they could tilt the balance in favor of one barangay official who could recruit them to register in his barangay and pay them to vote for him later. The squatters, who will no longer vote in their own barangay, will be undetected since their residence is not definite.

"You cannot just point to the plaza and say that you live there," he said.

Rafanan said they will also work for the exclusion of those registered squatters who have been relocated in the past since they should be voting at their relocation site.

Rafanan said they are also doing elected government officials a favor by delisting relocated squatters who could try to get back at them by voting for their opponents. Rafanan said identifying squatters was made even easier with the utilization of their precinct mapping system.