"The right to vote is the highest political right of every citizen of this country. And the right to vote is the basic foundation of a democratic society. To deprive the citizenry of the right to suffrage is the highest form of betrayal of democracy," Herrera said.
The special session is designed to approve an amendatory bill seeking to allow the registration of first-time voters.
"The opposition’s plan to boycott the special session is actually intended to block the planned special registration for youth voters," Herrera said as he stressed the urgency of the need to list up the youth for the forthcoming senatorial election.
Herrera urged the Filipino youth to unify their voice by pressing lawmakers to approve a proposed amendment to the Omnibus Elections Code that would allow the registration of first-time voters among them.
"The planned boycott of the three-day special session betrays the political maneuvering of their opposition and unmasks their true intention to manipulate the May 14 polls," Herrera said.
Herrera issued a statement after Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago urged the opposition to walk out of the scheduled special session in a bid to spite the lawmakers belonging to the ruling party.
"Ms. Santiago should be reminded that the Senate could also be faulted for the foul-up in the registration of first-time voters among the youth. Any lawmaker who has the public interest in mind will not allow this foul-up to happen because this could only contribute to political vacuum."
According to Herrera, the recent claim by Sen. John Osmeña that the ruling People Power Coalition wanted to push the list-up of youth voters to enable it to get the upperhand in the May 14 senatorial race is a "pure lie, nothing more."
"Osmeña seems to be off-tangent with reality. Even before the fall of disgraced President Estrada, the Filipino youth have been with us and are one with us in our fight against economic plunder and bureaucratic thievery," Herrera said.