AN OFFICIAL from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Northern Mindanao Region was dismayed with the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court for its "No Bio, No Boto" policy.
"Dismayado kita tungod kay basin unyag rason kini na malangan kita sa preparasyon sa umaabot na eleksyon kay ibalik naman gud nato tong mga botante nga anaa sa listahan sa mga walay biometrics," lawyer Renato Magbutay, Comelec 10 regional director, said.
Magbutay said the move is also unfair to the people who patiently stood in line just to validate their registry for the upcoming elections.
"Grabe baya ang paglinya ug pagsakripisyo, effort ug oras gyud na nga dili sayon na paglinya sa mga tao ma-validate lang ang ilang mga boto," he said.
The 'No Bio, No Boto' campaign emanated from Republic Act 10367 requiring all voter registration records to have biometrics information which involves a fingerprint scanner and a signature pad to capture the biometrics data.
On November 25, the Kabataan Partylist filed a petition before the SC seeking to declare the said law as unconstitutional.
In a statement released by Kabataan Partylist Northern Mindanao, it noted that over 3 million registered voters' data will be declared null should Comelec pursue its campaign.
“The policy itself gives meticulous process to our fellow citizens and became a burden to our aspiring voters especially those who have difficulties on accessing the Comelec offices,” Kabataan Partylist coordinator Rochamae Bihag said.
Bihag added that they see the campaign as a repressive sugar-coated tactic by the Comelec 'to hinder the democratic right to suffrage of the citizens on their ability to choose among the candidates for the 2016 elections.'
Bihag said they have still upcoming campaigns to uphold the residents' rights in the 2016 polls.
"We are urging the youth to take part in the upcoming campaigns," she added.
Comelec is required to submit its comment within a period of 10 days from its notice.