Senators were informed Wednesday, September 29, that President Duterte will veto the Congress-approved bill that proposes to extend the voter registration period for a month.
This comes after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that it will resume the registration of voters for the 2022 elections after the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) from October 1 to 8.
The public may again register starting October 11 until October 30.
During their plenary session, Senate President Vicente Sotto III disclosed speaking to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea who said that Malacañang has already received the bill ratified by the two chambers of Congress, which proposes an extension of 30 days upon its effectivity.
"He (Medialdea) said will veto, because it's moot and academic as far as the sentiment is concerned," Sotto told his colleagues.
"We will just let it go, allow the executive department to just veto it," the Senate chief added.
Sotto further said that the Comelec will transmit a copy of its resolution to Duterte "in the next day or so".
Before this, senators weighed in on what happens to the ratified bill since the poll body has already decided to prolong the voter registration period.
Sotto believed the measure is already moot and academic.
But Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, who was a former executive secretary and Senate president, said that while Congress may decide not to anymore enroll the bill to the executive department for approval, the President should be allowed to decide on the matter.
"Of course, the President is within his prerogative to veto it and assert...that the extension up to October 30 already satisfies the need for an extension...He can do that," Drilon opined.
"The enrollment of the bill is nothing more than a certification that the process has been followed. Not to send it to the President will deprive him of the authority to make it into law," he noted.
Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III supported Drilon, saying the bill must be sent to the President "because otherwise, there will be three people now who have veto power."
Senators agreed that the move satisfies the intention of their legislation. They lauded the Comelec for heeding their appeal.
The Comelec was initially opposed to calls for the extension of the voter registration, with officials saying they are pressed for time in preparing for the 2022 elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawmakers then decided to craft a bill to compel the poll body instead.