Marawi councilor wants law vs multiple registration in Armm

A LEGISLATOR in Marawi City is urging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to at least recommend a law in the House of Representatives penalizing those caught exercising multiple registrations in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).

Marawi City Councilor Abdani Tagoranao Alonto said the re-listing of voters, which aim to cleanse the region’s electoral record, is not the first in Armm and yet no reform in the electoral process is happening.

Alonto aired his concern to Lawyer James Jimenez, Comelec spokesperson, during the 2nd National Congress of the Regional Program to Promote Gender Equality in Political Participation at Dynasty Court Hotel in Cagayan de Oro.

The congress, centered on the theme “An Analysis of Gender and Development towards the Promotion of Gender Equality and Equity in Political Participation,” is guided by the general objective of contributing to women’s recognition in political and civil rights by supporting initiatives that promote good governance and democracy in the region.

According to Alonto, unless there is really a law, those who are planning to sabotage might have second thoughts before doing so.

“Hindi kasi matatakot yung mga may balak mandaya kasi walang batas na magpaparusa sa kanila. And I am asking the Comelec if they can recommend such law to the Congress para naman may reporma na tayong makita,” Alonto told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Wednesday.

Jimenez, however, said the last registration done in Armm was in 2004 and the Comelec is facing the dilemma of no law penalizing multiple registrations.

“The least we can do is on the preventive aspect. Mapipigilan natin ang mga posibleng mandaya ng registration, especially now that we are using indelible ink and biometric system,” he said.

The conference, organized by Paz Y Desarollo in partnership with Aecid, Pilipina, Ministerio de Asuntos, is working in Caraga and Lanao del Sur regions, where the largest population of poor women were recorded based on the National Statistical Coordination Board.