SC issues TRO on Comelec’s ‘No Bio, No Boto’ rule

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the mandatory biometrics voter registration scheme, which is also known as “No Bio, No Boto” campaign, being implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In a press conference, SC Public Information Office Chief Theodore Te said that the Court, sitting en banc, ruled that the TRO will be effective immediately.

“[TRO will be] continuing until further orders from the Court directing respondent Comelec to desist from deactivating registered voters without biometric information,” Te said.

The decision of the Court also stated that the Comelec is required to submit its comment within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice.

Last Nov. 25, Kabataan party-list filed a petition before the SC seeking to declare Republic Act 10367 or An Act Providing for Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration unconstitutional.

READ: Youth party-list group questions constitutionality of ‘No Bio, No Boto’ at SC | Comelec defends ‘no bio, no boto’

The petitioners were Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon, party president Marjohara Tucay, National Union of Students of the Philippines president Sarah Elago, Anakbayan chair Vencer Crisostomo and deputy secretary general Einstein Recedes, College Editors Guild of the Philippines president Marc Lino Abila, and League of Filipino Students chair Charisse Bañez.

“RA 10367 and its implementing regulations are unconstitutional as these impose an unconstitutional, additional substantive requirement imposed on the exercise of suffrage, thus violating Section 1, Article V of the 1987 Constitution,” the petitioners said. IDL