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Sunday, August 31, 2003
Squatter poll ban hit
By Karen M. Flores
CEBU -- If Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos puts into writing his order not to allow squatters to register, Sen. John Osmeņa yesterday said, "We will have something to hit him with."
As it is, Osmeņa quoted Abalos as saying during a meeting with senators, that he (the chairman) merely "whispered" to regional directors of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the directive not to accept squatters' application for registration or transfer.
For her part, Sen. Tessie Aquino-Oreta said that in the meantime, she would like to see how Comelec can enforce such a policy that is "unconstitutional."
In a news conference after a gathering in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City Saturday, Osmeņa asked lawyer Aristotle Batuhan if this is not an "impeachable" action of the Comelec chairman.
Batuhan, whom Osmeņa will again support as candidate for congressman in Cebu City's south district next year, replied that it "may be a culpable violation of the Constitution."
Justify that
Batuhan said Abalos' interpretation of residence, as evidenced by his order, "could be violative of the constitutional intent."
He explained that as long as an applicant for registration has "a shelter in a locality," he can already be enlisted.
Abalos had said squatters who claim to be residents of cemeteries, parks, public buildings, under bridges and near seawalls are "transients" who do not qualify to register.
A local Comelec official earlier asked what would become of Badjaos who live in houseboats and continually travel if Abalos' definition of residence were to be followed.
In the news conference, Osmeņa said Abalos has "taken upon himself the power to disenfranchise people. That is contrary to the Constitution. You can't just disenfranchise people."
Oreta said, "I want to see how he can justify that."
Osmeņa and Oreta, together with Batuhan and former Cebu City mayor Alvin Garcia, attended yesterday afternoon the inauguration of two multi-million projects in Labangon that the two senators financed out of their discretionary funds. (Sun.Star Cebu)
(August 31, 2003 issue)
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