A positive move
WITH many Filipinos still unable to register as voters, extending the voter registration period is a “positive development” in a country teeming with election-crazy people.
In fact, well-meaning people, particularly the electorate, can now sleep at night certain that there would be no “massive voter disenfranchisement” despite the pandemic.
This after the Commission on Elections (Comelec), in an en banc session, extended the voter registration period to allow more people to exercise their right of suffrage.
As approved, the registration of voters, which ends today (September 30), resumes on October 11 after the eight-day (October 1-8) filing of certificates of candidacy.
Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez, a lawyer, said the extension of the voter regisration period to October 30 (Saturday) was unanimously approved en banc.
Malacanang welcomed the Comelec decision, describing it as a “positive development” at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the economy.
At the same time, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque called on all eligible voters, especially the youth, to register early but observe minimum public health standards.
House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, on the other hand, said the “right of suffrage is one of the most important rights and responsibilities we have as citizens of the Philippines.”
Speaker Velasco made the statement as he commended the poll body for seeing the wisdom of extending the voter registration period as demanded by many sectors of society.
Let’s then go out and register as a voter if we are to rid this impoverished Southeast Asian nation of corrupt, lazy, abusive and do-nothing government officials.
