Comelec averse on reg extension because majority dislike admin bets

Even if the Comission on Elections (Comelec) agreed to extend the voters’ registration, the manner by which it has interpreted the Supreme Court ruling “reeks of phobia from more voters who dislike administration bets,” labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno criticized today.

“Now that the Comelec is instructed to extend the registration period, why can’t they do it right away? Voters’ registration is a regular procedure for the Comelec, there can be no excuse for them not to enforce it immeadiately,” said KMU Chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog.

“The extension period should also not be compressed to a measly five-day period. The January 9 ruling of the Supreme Court refers to the last day of registration, not the last day to finalize the voters’ list as what Comelec would be doing to lessen the actual registration days,” Labog said.

“Comelec is preventing and disenfranchising people to vote, the very opposite of what it is supposed to do. As early as now we are being cheated in the elections as the next Hello-Garci phone pals of Arroyo are excluding legitimate participants in the elections,” Labog added.

The labor leader also commented that Comelec should not be very wary with the registration’s extension if it really upholds democratic elections, where more people should be given the chance to participate.

“The Comelec even makes the extension look detrimental to the electoral process with flimsy reasons that it will delay their preparations and burden them with its implementation. In fact, it is actually their hocus-pocus with the electoral groundwork to ensure fraud that delay the election preparations,” Labog said. #