MANILA — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Andres Bautista admitted that he himself has no biometrics but intends to have it taken soon.
In a press briefing during the end-to-end demonstration of the hybrid election system, Precinct Automated Tallying System in Bacoor, Cavite on Saturday, the poll body chief said that he learned about not having biometrics after receiving a notice from their barangay.
“’Yung aming barangay chairman nagpadala ng sulat para magpa-biometrics,” he said.
With this, Bautista noted that he would have his biometrics taken on July 19, at the Comelec satellite office in a mall in Quezon City.
“Ako po ay registrado sa 4th district ng Quezon City bumoboto ako sa St. Paul school. Tiningnan ko ang schedule ng Ayala I think para sa 4th district meron sila sa Trinoma sa July 19,” he said.
Bautista added, “Ang gusto ko konting media events para lang mapaalala sa ating mga botante ang kahalagahan ng biometrics…parang kulang pa din sa kaalaman so we are trying to raise the awareness.”
He said that they wanted the public to take advantage of the opportunity since it would be very convenient for them to go to the mall apart from the place being cooler since they had air-conditioned place.
“Malaking bagay itong pagkakaroon ng opportunity na mag-biometrics sa mall kasi di ba mas madali pumunta, mas malamig at madaming Pilipino nagpupunta sa weekend,” Bautista added.
At the same time, he added that he was able to vote in the 2013-midterm polls.
The Comelec is urging registered voters numbering to 4.3 million to have their biometrics taken or they lose the chance of participating in the 2016 national and local polls.
Under Republic Act 10367 or the Mandatory Biometrics Registration Act of 2013, voters, who fail to submit for validation prior to the May 2016 elections, shall be deactivated from the voters’ list and shall not be allowed to vote.
Biometrics data refers to the automated identification of an individual, particularly his/her photograph, fingerprint, and signature.
The ongoing nationwide registration is set to end on Oct. 31.