Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. INQUIRER.net file photo / Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines — The Joint Task Force COVID Shield on Thursday ordered police commanders to deploy security forces to enforce health protocols in local offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) where voter registration is being conducted.
Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the police officers must ensure physical distancing and proper wearing of face masks and face shields of people in the voter registration areas.
“Police personnel should be always present in the areas where voter registration is held not only to maintain peace and order but also to make sure that the minimum health safety standard protocols are observed strictly,” Eleazar said in a statement.
“Securing the voters registration should be until the last days of the schedule since we all know that people usually flock to the Comelec offices to register a few days leading to the deadline,” he added.
Eleazar also discouraged minors and senior citizens to register this early while COVID-19 cases are still increasing.
“Ang voter registration po ay hanggang September 2021 pa, kaya nakikiusap po tayo sa mga kababayan nating menor de edad pa at mga senior citizen na ipagpaliban muna ang pag-register dahil masyadong delikado pa para sa kanila ang lumabas at makihalubilo sa maraming tao na magpapa-rehistro,” Eleazar said.
(Voter registration is until September 2021 so I am asking minors and senior citizens to set aside their plan of registration as our situation remains risky to their health when going outside.)
Comelec announced that voter registration will resume on Sept. 1, except for areas under strict coronavirus quarantine.
The novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, causative agent of COVID-19, causes mild symptoms for most people but may cause serious ailment for older adults or those with underlying illness.
As of Thursday, the Philippines has logged 228,403 COVID-19 cases with 3,668 fatalities and 159,475 recoveries.