Palace leaves calls to extend voters’ sign-up to Comelec

MANILA – Malacañang on Monday said it is up to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to decide on calls to extend voters’ registration by at least one month in areas affected by Covid-19 lockdowns.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Comelec, as a constitutional body, has primary jurisdiction to decide on matters concerning elections.

“Gaya po ng [Commission on Audit], ang Comelec ay isa na namang constitutional body at sila po talaga ang mayroong hurisdiksyon para mag-conduct ng mga eleksyon. So nasa kamay po ‘yan ng Comelec (Just like the COA, the Comelec is another constitutional body and they have jurisdiction to conduct elections. So, it’s in the hands of the Comelec),” he said in a Palace press briefing.

Roque also noted that the Comelec is aware of the current Covid-19 situation on the ground.

“Do we agree? Well, we leave it to the Comelec dahil ang Presidente naman (because the President) and the Comelec chairman and commissioners have the same access to the same information that we all know is happening—mayroon pong pandemya (there is a pandemic),” he added.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon earlier announced that the constitutional body would not be extending voter registration beyond September 30, despite the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ classifications placed in some parts of the country.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has urged the Comelec to rethink its decision not to extend the period for voter registration.

Pangilinan said Comelec is allowed under Republic Act No. 8189 or the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 to extend the registration period.

Citing the law, he said “no voters’” registration must be conducted in a 120 day-period before a regular election and a 90-day period before a special election.”

First Time Voters Network, a coalition of youth organizations and student councils, also asked Comelec to extend voters’ registration and registration hours and allow registration during weekends.

Last week, the Comelec said there is no discussion yet on the possible extension of the voter registration despite the reimposition of ECQ in Metro Manila from Aug. 6 to 20.

The ECQ prompted Comelec to suspend the voter registration in the National Capital Region.