INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has joined calls for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to extend voter registration for the 2022 national polls by one more month.
In her weekly radio show, Robredo said that while she understands why Comelec has to set deadlines, it has to be considered that the country is facing “extraordinary” circumstances that may have affected those who wish to become registered voters.
“Naiintindihan natin ‘yung Comelec kasi dahil digitized yung eleksyon, kailangan talagang gumalaw na sila so kailangan maglagay ng deadline. Pero baka naman possible na i-delay pa siya for another month para lang siguradong makahabol yung mga hindi pa nakakarehistro,” Robredo said.
(We understand Comelec because the elections are now digitized and they need to move as soon as possible so they have to impose a deadline. But maybe we can delay the deadline for another month so that we can ensure that those who have not registered yet can do so.)
Comelec has previously said that it will not be extending the voter registration deadline on September 30. Instead, Comelec extended voter registration hours and opened registration areas in shopping malls.
However, Robredo said many voters might be disenfranchised if the voter registration deadline will not be extended.
“‘Yung mga pictures sa registration ang hahaba ng pila. Marami ‘yung gusto talaga mag-rehistro so sa akin lagi naman akong in favor doon sa hindi madi-disenfranchise yung mga botante natin,” Robredo said.
(We see in pictures that the lines in registration areas are still long. Many want to register so for me, I am in favor of not disenfranchising our voters.)
On September 14, the upper chamber adopted Senate Resolution No. 851 seeking the extension of the voter registration period up to October 31, 2021, from the original deadline of September 30.