Comelec resumes voter registration

CEBU, Philippines –  Hundreds of registrants troop to the offices of the Commission on Elections in Cebu City yesterday after a five-day suspension of the registration to give way to the filing of the Certificates of  Candidacy.

 Election assistant Omar Sharif Mamalinta said at least 700 people showed at the Comelec offices yesterday either to register or have their registration records validated.

Starting yesterday, the Comelec will open 12 hours a day including weekends until the deadline on October 31 to accommodate more registrants.

The poll body has also scheduled offsite registrations on October 18 and 25 at the Robinson’s Cybergate; October 26 to 29 (Monday to Thursday) at the Ayala Center Cebu; and October 30 and 31 at Robinson’s Cybergate.

According to the Comelec, there will be no transactions at its offices in Cebu City during the scheduled offsite registration.

 Among the hundreds of people who trooped to the Comelec offices yesterday was Therese Jereza, 20, of Barangay Lahug. Jereza is a first time voter in the May 2016 elections.

She said she wants to participate in the next elections to be part of the changes she wanted to see in the government.

“(I decided to register today) so that we can have change in our government in the Philippines. As I have noticed, there has been no change,” Jereza said.

Those who will be 18 years old on election day are qualified to register provided that they have been a resident of the place they intend to register for at least six months.

Registrants only need to bring any of the following: valid identification card, birth certificate or marriage certificate.

The Comelec field offices have modified the registration process and provided express lane for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant women.

The Comelec is urging those who have yet to register to list up and participate in the elections. —/FPL  (FREEMAN)