AFTER the recently concluded registration for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October, San Carlos City discovered 47 voter registrants who either registered twice, failed to meet age requirement or failed to appear during oathtaking.

Atty. Jennifer Balarbar, city Commission on Elections (Comelec) officer, said 12 registered in at least two barangays (double registrants); 16 are underage while 17 are overage for the SK; and two did not appear before the elections officer for oath taking.

The age requirement for SK registrants is 15-17 years old.

Every applicant is also required to have a minimum residency period of six months and must take oath before the Comelec officer.

“You can fool me during the registration but you cannot fool me after registration,” Balarbar said during the KBP Forum last week.

She said subpoenas have been filed against the 47 registrants to appear during the inquiry of the Comelec.

San Carlos City, which has 86 barangays, listed 7,492 regular and 9,151 SK voter-registrants during the registration period which ended last July 31.

All applications are evaluated by the Elections Registration Board (ERB).

HAKUTAN

Meanwhile, on complaints of alleged ‘hakutan’ (organizing, collecting and delivering voters to the registration venues,) Balarbar said the deadline for filing of petitions before the Comelec to contest registrations was last August 8.

After that date, petitioners will have to file their oppositions before the Municipal Trial Court.

Investigations and hearings on petitions start August 13.

The law provides 15 years old and below are exempted from any criminal liability while those above 15 will be investigated for malicious intent and discernment.

If found guilty, punishment for election offenses range from one to six years imprisonment without probation and permanent disqualification from holding public office.–Johanne R. Macob

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