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Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Comelec warns: Beware of imported voters
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan and Avelyn Z. Agudon
* Alleged imported voters are still allowed to vote if his or her name is in the list of registered voters in a certain precinct
BEWARE of imported voters. This was the stern warning issued by the Commission on Elections to all local candidates in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, for the May 10 polls synchronized local and national elections.
Lawyer Marsha Cordero, provincial election supervisor, said some candidates are complaining of irregularities, specifically the so-called "flying voters" or "imported voters."
Some are double registrants in multiple precincts, Cordero added.
She said candidates should brief their poll watchers on how to identify flying voters.
Upon identification, watchers should immediately file the necessary protest to be registered in the minutes of election proceedings, before the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI).
Cordero, however, said the alleged imported voters are still allowed to vote if his or her name is still in the list of registered voters in a certain precinct.
Later, however, the protest made by the poll watcher against certain imported voters may be used as a ground in filing an election protest by any candidate against his or her opponent.
Cordero added that because the candidates have not filed any protest on these alleged imported voters during the inclusion and exclusion proceedings, they have to wait until election time to register the protest against those who will be suspected as such.
Cordero further advised voters to check if their names were posted in the official list of voters so that they can cast their votes during the day of elections.
Cordero's pronouncement came after Joe Concepcion of the National Movement for Free Elections claimed there are 50 cities and municipalities in the country with about two million voters who are not in the voters' list.
She said if the voter's name is not included in the list they should insist that their names be included in the Comelec's Data Capturing Machine, especially if they have revalidated their registration.
"They should demand for their names to be included," Cordero said.
On the other hand, Cordero said as far as her office is concerned, there will be no more reshuffling of election officers in the province.
But if the need arises, then she will be obliged to order an immediate reshuffling, Cordero said.
Susan Araiza, former election officer of Talisay City, was already assigned to the Comelec provincial office.
This was after no mayor of any town and city would accept Araiza.
Araiza is supposed to be transferred to Valladolid town from Talisay but Mayor Marcelino Presbitero refused to accept her.
(April 27, 2004 issue)
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