Those experiencing Covid-19 symptoms have been repeatedly advised by the Department of Health (DOH) stay at home and isolate themselves on election day. But according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), as long as they have not undergone any tests to show that they have been infected by the virus, they will still be allowed to vote.
"Basta ang rule para maliwanag: lahat ng filipino n nakarehistro at pumunta sa presinto sa araw ng eleksyon ay makakaboto kahit pa nga may nararamdaman ng simtomas ng covid 19 (The rule is clear: All registered Filipinos who went to their precincts during the election day can vote even if they have Covid-19 symptoms)," Commissioner George Erwin Garcia said.
According to Commissioner George Erwin Garcia even though there is a chance that someone might be Covid-19 positive but there is no test or findings to prove otherwise, they will still be allowed to vote. He added that the Comelec will not actually require anyone to present an RT-PCR or antigen test result as part of the "exercise of political right of voting".
In a television interview on CNN Philippines, Garcia said that Comelec cannot do anything if the voters would come there even with symptoms.
"What can we do? We cannot drive them away at papauwiin na lang sila (and tell them to go home), we will allow them to vote," he said.
For those who have tested positive for Covid-19, Garcia said that under Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines and resolutions, infected patients must be isolated. Due to this, they will not be able to vote.
"Definitely the Local Government Unit (LGU), more specifically, the barangays will not allow them to get out and vote then in that case we have to respect the IATF guidelines and resolution as well as the DOH instruction on this matter because these are COVID-19 positive patients," he stated.
"We have said that if they have a temperature of 37 degrees and above, sa gilid lang muna sila (they will be asked to step aside) then temperatures will be taken again kung talagang ganun pa rin (if ever it remains the same), we will bring them to the isolation polling precinct (IPP) so they can vote," he explained.
In the IPP, Garcia mentioned that they have assistors wearing Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) and there, all health protocols will be observed.
"So we will allow them. Not having symptoms is not a basis of us depriving them of their constitutional right to vote," he said.
On Thursday, April 28, the poll body said that postponing the upcoming May 2022 polls will not be an option of theirs and vowed to push through with it no matter the circumstances even despite the threat of a new Covid-19 surge.