Voters still in line after cutoff allowed to cast ballots

MANILA – The Commission on Election (Comelec) assured that voters who were still in line even after poll precincts had closed at 7 p.m. were allowed to cast their ballots.

The Comelec cited the situation of voters at Gregorio Perfecto High School in Tondo, Manila, some of whom arrived at 8 a.m. but were still unable to vote by 4 p.m.

The number swelled after residents of Barangay 20 in Parola who normally cast their votes at Rosauro Almario Elementary School had to be transferred to nearby Perfecto High School, the assigned polling place for residents of Barangay 18 and 19.

The Rosauro Almario Elementary School, where outgoing Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso had his primary education, is under construction.

It will be air conditioned with 227 classrooms, 12 offices, eight elevators, two basketball courts, a library, an auditorium and a gymnasium.

“Basta nasa vicinity ng voting center, let them all vote maski abutan ng following day. Kailangan pabotohin natin sila, kung nandyan sila, kung nakapila sila diyan (As long as they are already in the vicinity of the voting center, let them all vote even if it extends the following day. We will let them vote if they are in line and they are there), why not?” Comelec chair Saidamen Pangarungan said in an ambush interview at the Philippine International Convention Center Forum Tent.

Tondo resident Claudine Babante said their situation was stressful.

“Mayor Isko nanawagan kami, maraming salamat sa pagpapagawa ng Almario pero sana wag nyo rin kaming kalimutan. Malaking botante po kami. Isko sayo ako pero sana patunayan mo na para sayo talaga ‘to (We are calling on you Mayor Isko. Thank you for constructing Almario, but please look at us. We are a big number of voters. My vote is for you, but I hope you can prove that you are worthy of it),” Babante told the Philippine News Agency.

The Jose Abad Santos police station deployed 75 police officers to assist about 33,000 voters.