The Commission on Election (Comelec) is open to extend the voter registration period for just one week but after the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COC) from October 1 to 8.
Instead of a one-month extension as some lawmakers are pushing, Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said the Comelec is proposing to give a one-week extension but after potential candidates for the May 2022 national elections have filed their respective COCs during that period.
“The en banc has already ruled twice not to extend the registration. If that bill would be passed as a law then we will comply. But then again, our proposal is to give a one-week extension after the filing of the COC,” Casquejo said during the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System (AES).
Casquejo made the assurance a day after the Senate approved on second reading Senate Bill No. 2408 asking the Comelec to extend the voter registration “from September 31 to a later date but before Jan. 9, 2022” in consideration of the physical restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leaders at the House of Representatives have also joined calls to extend the voter registration up to October 31.
“We will look into it now. But up until now, what we have agreed—it’s not yet open to the en banc—but what we have agreed is one week,” Casquejo said.
Sen. Imee Marcos, who is among the 23 senators who filed the Senate bill, said she cannot understand why the poll body has chosen to shorten the deadline at the time when lockdowns affected the voter registration processes for many Filipinos.
“Previously, the deadline is really during October. Why shorten it at a time there is COVID and there are many lockdowns?” said Marcos, who chairs the Senate electoral reforms committee.
But Casquejo said the Comelec sees the need to stick to an earlier deadline so it can and prepare amid the pandemic.
According to Casquejo, majority of the poll body’s preparations stand to be affected if they adjust their schedule.