INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Responding to “public clamor,” the Commission on Elections (Comelec) management committee (ManCom) is examining whether to extend voter registration, the poll body’s spokesperson James Jimenez announced on Friday.
Jimenez said the ManCom will consult with all officials of the polling body before submitting their recommendation to en banc, which will base its decision on the committee’s guidance.
“We will be talking about the logistics of getting the extension done. We will talk about how long an extension is possible and then a recommendation will be drafted by the Mancom and submit it to the en banc,” Jimenez said in an online press briefing.
Jimenez said the en banc would decide on or before September 29, a day before the end of voter registration.
The voter registration deadline remains September 30 until the Comelec makes a decision.
The Comelec did not want to extend voter registration due to the challenges it will create with the election timeline.
After the filing of the certificate of candidacy, the poll body said it is open to extending voter registration for one week from October 1-8.
READ: Voter registration will not be extended beyond Sept. 30 — Comelec
“What changed, why Comelec is open to this now? We’re open to this now because of the public clamor,” he added.
READ: Comelec open to one-week extension of voter registration after COC filing
Several groups and organizations, even the Senate and House of Representatives, are calling for the extension of voter registration until October 31.