Eleazar urges cops to remain alert as voter registration period nears end

FILE PHOTO Voter registration

MANILA, Philippines — Police officers must remain alert on the last day of the voter registration period to avoid any untoward incident due to crowding, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said on Friday.

In a statement, Eleazar said they expect more individuals to troop to election offices on Saturday, October 30, which is the last day of the voters’ registration period as extended by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Still, he pleaded to people to refrain from making last-minute trips to avoid crowding, even though he had already placed police officers on standby.

“[…] Kami sa PNP ay umaasa na hindi na ito mauuwi sa last day-rush na naganap noong nakaraang buwan.  Pinagbigyan na tayo ng Comelec at ng pamahalaan na ma-extend ang registration ng halos isang buwan kaya wala ng dahilan na mauuwi na naman ito sa mga pagtatalo at pag-aalburoto ng ilan nating mga kababayan na hindi makakahabol,” Eleazar said.

(We in the PNP are hoping that we would not see a last-day-rush for voters’ registration, just like what happened a month ago.  The Comelec has given us a chance after they extended the registration period for almost a month, that’s why we have no excuses that these activities would result in quarrels and fights among the people who cannot comply.)

“But I have placed all police offices on alert for the last day of the voter’s registration in anticipation of large numbers of people lining up at the different voter registration hubs nationwide at the last minute,” he added.

He also reminded people who would troop to the Comelec office and satellite registration sites to still observe health protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure that their communities would be safe from localized transmissions.

“I have also directed all police commanders to enhance visibility patrols and anti-crime operations around these sites, including other public areas, to deprive criminals the opportunity to strike or prey on our kababayan,” Eleazar noted.

Last September 29, Comelec heeded the clamor of Filipinos who asked for an extension of the voter registration period after several individuals could not register due to lockdowns placed last August and September amid the COVID-19 surge.

READ: Comelec approves extension of voter registration to end-October 

But despite the extension of the voter registration period, there were still incidents where people quarreled due to long lines that start in some instances, in the wee hours of the morning.

Last October 22, a concerned citizen from Marilao town in Bulacan complained that an ambulance carrying aspiring voters jumped the queue outside the municipal hall and entered the office’s premises even if no one was allowed inside.