“FLYING VOTERS” IN DAGUPAN?

COULD it be a political ploy by some candidates for the May 2013 election?

The Commission on Election (Comelec) in Dagupan suspects so as a deluge of new registrants and transferees voters trying to beat the October 31 deadline swamped the office last week.

To address the situation, the City Election Office has instituted some safety measures to prevent fraud in the coming election.

City Elections Officer Remarque Ravanzo has asked the new and transferring voters to bring all the necessary documents, stressing that a barangay clearance is not recognized by the Comelec as sole proof of residence in a particular place.

Ravanzo said that since most only had barangay clearances with them as proofs of 6-month residency in the city, a big number was not able to register.

He explained that the document and a community tax receipts certificate are not recognized because these are easy to acquire from barangay chairmen.

PUNCH sources reported that many of the new registrants and transferees issued with barangay clearances and are lining up daily at the Comelec were seen being hauled to the Comelec by barangay officials identified with a mayoralty candidate in the city.

The registrants and transferees, mainly from neighboring towns, were reportedly provided transportation to and from the Comelec office and snacks while waiting for their turn.

Noting the series of complaints filed by the Liberal Party, Ravanzo asked both the Liberal Party and the Nacionalista Party to send their respective watchers to the City Election Office to monitor the registration proceedings.

The watchers, he added, can also raise an objection on site if they suspect that those registering or transferring their place of voting are not from Dagupan.

The Comelec office warned that “flying voters” – voters who violate the voter’s registration law – are liable for a minimum 6-month imprisonment.

DOCUMENTS

Ravanzo said acceptable identification cards include those issued by the Social Security Service, Government Service Insurance System, Postal Office and driver’s license, which indicate addresses and places of birth.

Valid company ID that state the name and address of the person is also accepted provided this is accompanied by an affidavit executed by a relative of the person (parents, sibling or next of kin) attesting that the person had resided in Dagupan for a period of at least six months.

The signatory of the affidavit must also accompany the person to answer questions from the Comelec officers.

New voters must bring a birth certificate to attest their age.

Ravanzo said voters who wait until deadline to register have to suffer long queues.

The Comelec Registration Board in the city will meet on November 15 with political parties to give them an opportunity to object to the registration of persons they believe are non-residents of Dagupan and be subjected to exclusion proceedings.

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