There are still over 5 million unclaimed voter’s IDs — Comelec

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said there are more than 5 million unclaimed voters’ identification (ID) cards.

With this, Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez urged the public that the IDs can be claimed in all Offices of Election Officers (OEOs) in their localities.

According to the data of the Comelec – Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD), there are over 5.5 million voters’ ID yet to be claimed by registered voters as of March 2015.

“We have over five million IDs that are unclaimed. We are wondering why they are not being claimed?” he said.

Comelec has released 22,567,882 voters’ ID to its city/municipal OEOs, a total of 5,506,524 still unclaimed.

Jimenez noted that the voters’ ID is free.

Majority of the unclaimed IDs were found in the Calabarzon with 1,018,693 followed by Metro Manila with 878,192.

On the other hand, the poll body report added that a total of 13,256,588 voters’ ID have already been released by OEOs to voters.

Region 4-A also has the highest number of claimed voters’ ID with 1,987,744 with Central Luzon closely behind with 1,659,321.

The Comelec said some 2,730,976 have been withheld by OEOs due to deactivation, cancellation, and transfer of registration, as well as correction of entries.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,085,891 IDs have been released to their respective barangays before the termination of the said arrangement.

“Hindi na kami nagre-release thru barangays. Nagka-issue e. Nagkakaipitan ng IDs like kapag hindi friends ng barangay, minsan sasabihin wala kang ID,” he said.