Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Listup improved but near brawl erupts among SK, bry. registrants
REGISTRATION at the Cebu City south district poll office improved yesterday, while registrants at the north district office continued to struggle with the slow pace of the registration process.
A brawl nearly ensued at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) north district office after registrants started pushing each other while they were in line.
Cebu City Election Officer for the north district Marchel Sarno said the crowd outside their office grew impatient with the delay, but they tried to register as many registrants as possible for the Oct. 29 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Policemen were assigned to control the crowd, in the absence of railings and chairs that would have defined the lines clearly.
The newly transferred election officer for the south district, lawyer Edwin Cadungog, was thankful for the orderly registration process in his district.
Although it is not encouraged, Cadungog decided to distribute the registration forms to barangay halls, which in turn distributed the forms to their respective constituents.
But Cadungog’s procedure runs counter to Comelec resolutions prescribing registration guidelines, a Comelec official, who requested anonymity, said.
Resolution 8220 or the rules and regulations for the SK polls registrations specifically states that the election officer should give the form to the registrant only after the requirements are presented and the applicant is interviewed at the poll office.
The same is stated in Resolution 8218, the rules and regulations for the registration for the barangay elections.
Cadungog said he distributed the forms earlier to fast track the registration process.
“Before they come here, they should have already filled out the forms so they would not gather outside the office and cause trouble. They were supposed to have filled out the form but they will sign it only after they are interviewed here,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.
He said an application for registration is not considered filed until the applicant appears at the poll office to submit requirements and to undergo an interview prior to signing the form.
In a phone interview yesterday, Comelec Regional Attorney Lionel Castillano said it is the election officers’ lookout to make sure that barangay captains who were asked to distribute the registration forms do not get undue advantage in the coming elections.
“Makasabot ko ana kay dako man kaayo ang Cebu City. Diskarte na na sa election officer how to speed up the process (I can understand why the election officer resorted to that practice because Cebu City is very big). It’s not in the resolution that is why I will also not encourage it. But it’s up to the election officers, just be sure there is no undue advantage given to the barangay captain who might seek reelection,” he said.
Castillano and the city’s election officers also await instructions from Manila whether the pre-election calendar of activities has been officially adjusted.
Election laws prohibit the holding of registration within a 120-day period before the day of the election.
The July 15 to 22 registration falls short of the 120-day allowance required. (LCR)
