Cops to ensure orderly voter registration
WITH only a week remaining for the voter registration period for the 2020 national and local elections, Philippine National Police chief General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar ordered his men to ensure that health protocols are being strictly observed in various registration sites.
The top cop issued the reminder amid reports that registration sites have supposedly been crowded and that those who flocked the registration venues were greeted with long lines and hours of waiting.
Gen. Eleazar emphasized that police personnel should already start ensuring the orderliness of the election period, beginning with this registration process.
“Isang linggo na lang ang natitira at matatapos na ang voter’s registration para sa Halalan 2022 kaya inaasahan natin ang pagdagsa ng ating mga kababayan sa mga registration sites upang makahabol sa itinakdang deadline,” he said.
“That is why I ordered all our chiefs of police and area commanders to anticipate this by deploying enough number of personnel in various Comelec registration sites to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of voter’s registration because of the continuous threat of COVID-19,” the PNP chief added.
In the past days, a number of people flocked to Comelec offices and satellite voter’s registration in the malls to take advantage of the remaining days before the registration period closes.
Gen. Eleazar tasked local police offices and units to coordinate with local government units for the assistance that they could render once deployed in various registration sites.
The voter registration process is scheduled until September 30.
“Mahalaga ng pagpaparehistro upang marinig ang inyong boses sa darating na halalan subalit mahalaga rin na matiyak ang inyong kaligtasan sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa mga public health protocols upang maiwasan ang pagkalat ng coronavirus sa inyong mga lugar,” he said.
There have been calls and bills filed before the Congress to extend it until next month. However, the poll body is yet to decide on the matter.
