ERB approves Benitez's transfer of voter registration to Bacolod City

THE Election Registration Board (ERB) has approved the transfer of voter registration of former Third District representative and Provincial Consultant Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez.

In a resolution dated July 23, 2021, the ERB stated that its board finds Benitez fulfilling the residency requirement of six months on the day of the election.

"Even if the period of residence of the registrant in Mountainview Subdivision, Barangay Mandalagan be reckoned from the time of his filing of application to transfer of registration record on April 22, 2021, until the eve of the election day on May 9, 2022 respondent/registrant would still be one year and 11 days a resident thereof," the ERB said.

The ERB is composed of lawyer Kathrina Trinio-Caña, registrar of Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Bacolod and ERB chair; Gladys Amylaine Sales, assistant schools division superintendent of Bacolod City, and lawyer Hermilo Pa-oyon, head of the Local Civil Registrar.

"In light of the foregoing, the Election Registration Board hereby denies the opposition filed by Hector Yula, Teodoro Abao and Jonah Abao and approves the application of Alfredo Abelardo Benitez for the transfer of his voter approves registration to Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City," it said.

In reaction to the ERB's decision, Benitez said, “We respect and thank the ERB for the decision. We always had complete faith in the Comelec-ERB process. Now, I am a registered voter of Bacolod City. Bacolod, here I come!" Benitez said.

Earlier, Caña said both parties, the oppositors or the registrant applicant, may file their petition before the court for inclusion/exclusion of voter/registrant.

Other voters/applicants who were also subjected to opposition have also been sent the ERB decision Wednesday, Comelec-Bacolod said.

The oppositors and their lawyers could not be reached for comment as of Wednesday evening.