VOTERS who have been “deactivated” in the precinct finder system of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) likely missed the 2018 barangay elections, an official explained yesterday amid complaints of “missing” and nullified registrations.
In an interview, Elections Commissioner George Garcia said voters should have participated either in the 2018 barangay polls or the 2019 midterm elections, or both, to remain active registered voters.
“For those that were found to be deactivated voters, they may have forgotten that they weren’t able to vote for two consecutive elections,” said Garcia, urging the electorate to review their voting history.
Garcia noted that “some say they were able to vote in 2016 but not in 2019. They have forgotten the 2018 barangay elections.”
The poll official said barangay elections are considered as regular elections as ruled by the Supreme Court.
“For purposes of computing the two consecutive elections for you to get deactivated, the barangay election counts, like the one in 2018,” Garcia said.
Under the Voter’s Registration Act, a registration may be deactivated in the book of voters once an individual fails to vote in two successive preceding regular elections as shown by their voting records.
Comelec records show that 7,229,493 were deactivated for the May 2022 polls due to their failure to vote in the last two national elections.
Garcia issued the explanation after many netizens claimed that their voter registration had been deactivated based on the information provided by the online Precinct Finder System (https://voterverifier.comelec.gov.ph/voter_precinct) of the Comelec.
It was only last Friday when the system went back online since 2016.
“Last week, it even showed that the site is under maintenance because of the high volume of users. But now, it is okay,” said Garcia.
Presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo over the weekend urged her supporters to check their voter status to make sure that their registration have not been nullified by the Comelec.
Her camp expressed concern that the deactivation of voters could be part of a scheme to disenfranchise voters and tamper with the results of the May 9 elections.
SYMPTOMATIC VOTERS
Contrary to the position of the Department of Health (DOH), Garcia yesterday insisted voters with symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will be allowed to cast their votes on Election Day.
Garcia said: “All voters with symptoms of COVID-19 will be allowed to vote. For everyone’s information, just because you have cough colds, fever, or loose bowel movement, or other indicators that perhaps you have COVID-19, it does not mean that you will not be allowed to vote.”
“We will not drive away anybody. Everybody will be entitled to exercise their constitutional right to vote,” he added.
For now, the poll official believes that established protocols on voting for symptomatic individuals would suffice.
“We have health protocols in place. This means that we will check the temperature of the voters. If they are 37 degrees and above, you will be asked to step aside,” said Garcia.
Under existing Comelec protocols, all voters are set to undergo health screening and temperature checks prior to entering voting centers. Those detected to have symptoms of COVID-19 will be directed to isolation polling places (IPPs), where they will cast their votes.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has said that symptomatic voters shouldn’t be allowed to cast their votes altogether because doing so would be the opposite of the policy that those with COVID-19 symptoms must undergo isolation.
As for the possibility of postponing the electoral exercise due to a possible surge in cases, Garcia said the Omnibus Election Code provides that elections may be postponed only in instances of violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, force majeure, and other analogous causes.
“Can the COVID-19 situation or spike in COVID-19 cases be considered as a force majeure? That is something we will have to decide later,” said Garcia.
ELECTION SECURITY
At least 56,000 policemen will be deployed throughout the country on May 9 to secure the national and local elections, PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said yesterday.
“The total number is over 40,000 but there will be additional this week and next week,” Carlos told reporters in Camp Crame, referring to the policemen already earmarked for deployment on election day.
Carlos said administrative personnel who are not availing of the absentee voting on April 27, 28 and 29, will be sent to their hometowns so they can vote and at the same time help secure the elections.
Carlos said the PNP has also recalled last April 6 more than 16,000 who are undergoing training. He said these policemen have undergone orientation so they can also be deployed for election duties.
Carlos stressed the police force is well-prepared for the elections and is actively monitoring situations on the ground.
Asked if they have received intelligence information about sinister plans by some groups, Carlos said the PNP is doing “counter measures or counter actions.”
In Davao City, Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) commander Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol expressed confidence that the communist New People’s Army would not be able to disrupt the elections in the eastern part of Mindanao.
Noting the series of surrenders of NPA rebels with their firearms, Almerol said: “Now that they are in a very weak position, we are confident that the CTG cannot disrupt our people from exercising their rights.”
Nevertheless, Almerol said “we are still on high alert to prevent any incident to happen, especially in areas identified with security concerns.”
Almerol said the Eastmincom will continue to coordinate with the PNP and with the Comelec before, during and even after elections to ensure peace and order.
“We will also ensure that peaceful conditions prevail at polling stations and counting centers and that citizens can vote without fear of coercion, intimidation, manipulation, or violence,” said Almerol. — With Victor Reyes
