THE local poll body over the weekend said it has monitored a “hakot” system or the ferrying of potential voters during the last day of the voters' registration held at a mall in Cagayan de Oro City.
City Commission on Elections (Comelec) officer Ramil Acol said its office has heard that there were prospective voters being ferried by vehicles to the registration site.
Acol, however, said the local poll body cannot act on it yet and that anyone behind the “hakot” of potential voters has not committed an election offense since it is not yet election period.
"Malisod mana kay wa pa may election period karon so diskarte ra gyud na sa manghakot. There is nothing illegal in it," Acol said.
Acol said after the last day of the registration on Saturday, its office will have to determine whether the application will be approved or not.
"Dili pa sigurado kung ma-approve pa sila kay basin naay mga legal issues pa sa ilang application. Mao ni due process kay basin naglama-lama lang diay ang uban og parehistro unya dili diay residente diri (We will still have to look into their application whether they are legitimate residents here)," he added.
The city Comelec has earlier announced that the registration will not be extended which prompted potential voters to swarm at the site to catch up the last day of the registration.
Around 550 priority numbers have been distributed as early as 6:00 a.m. excluding the express lane for the elderly, persons with disability and pregnant women.
Acol said around 20,000 voters have been registered since the registration began last July 2.
"Wala man kaayo problema during sa last day sa registration kana lang daghan tao nga last hour na magparehistro nga dugay naman unta atong registration unay mag-ilogay na ug mangasuko,"Acol said.
Acol said those who will not make it on the last day of the registration will have to wait for the next schedule of the registration.