By Leslie Ann Aquino
The conduct of deactivation process of voters' registration records has been suspended by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in areas where the election of congressmen will be held on October 26.
Commission on Elections (MANILA BULLETIN)
The poll body ordered the suspension of the cleansing of the voters list in the 1st and 2nd Legislative Districts of Southern Leyte, and in the 1st and 3rd Legislative Districts of South Cotabato in Resolution No. 10599.
"In order to avoid any legal issues as an after effect of the deactivation process to be conducted by the ERB (Election Registration Board) vis-a-vis the list of voters to be utilized in the October 26 elections, there is a need to suspend the conduct of deactivation process in areas covered by the October 26 elections," it read.
"Now, therefore, the Commission resolves to suspend the conduct of the deactivation process in the areas covered by the October 26 elections," it further read.
According to the Comelec, the voters’ list that will be used on October 26 will be similar to the one used in the May 2019 national and local elections.
The poll body earlier suspended the holding of elections for district representatives of Southern Leyte and South Cotabato to a date later than May 13, 2019 due to operational and logistical constraints, in view of the passage of laws reapportioning the said legislative districts.
Republic Act No. 11198 reapportioning Southern Leyte into two legislative districts took effect on February 19, 2019, while R.A. No. 11243 reapportioning the first legislative district of South Cotabato thereby creating the lone legislative district of General Santos City took effect on April 4, 2019.