18 queuing for Bacolod voter list-up cited for COVID protocol breach

BACOLOD CITY—At least 18 persons falling in line to register as voters were issued citation tickets for violations of COVID health protocols outside the University of St. La Salle (USLS) Coliseum on Monday (Sept. 27).

Of those penalized, 13 were for violating the city’s 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew while five were for violating the physical distancing rule.

“They were lining up to register to vote as early as 1:30 a.m.,” said Wilfredo Geolingo, Bacolod City Task Force Disiplina action officer.

At least 1,600 people showed up to register as voters at the USLS Coliseum on Monday.

Bacolod Election Officer Kathrina Trinio Caña and 11 of her staff members returned to work on Monday after ending their quarantine.

Caña said the Bacolod voter registration process will continue at the USLS Coliseum until the deadline on Thursday (Sept. 30). An extension of the registration period is in the works in Congress and Commission on Elections.

The registration venue, said Caña, could accommodate up to 500 registration applicants per day with 160 in priority lanes.

TSB