'Santi' forces 'extension' of voters' registration

Due to Typhoon Santi, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was forced to extend its registration for the 2010 elections in areas affected by power outages. Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said brownouts caused by Santi rendered useless their registration centers, which rely on electricity-powered data capture machines. “Nakapagbigay tayo ng order sa affected areas lalo sa walang kuryente, yung mga taong nariyan bibigyan sila ng form, lista nila. These people can come back sa Martes, ang kanilang registration bibigyan ng bisa (I ordered registration centers in affected areas, especially those where there are brownouts, to give forms to those who are already there and list them down. Their registration can be validated on Tuesday)," Melo said in an interview on dzRH radio. The Comelec had initially set midnight on Saturday as the deadline for voters’ registration for the 2010 polls. The early deadline is in preparation for the country’s first automated polls. Melo said registrants will then return to the registration centers on Tuesday to complete the process, which includes taking their biometric data such as digital photos and fingerprints. Comelec registration centers affected by the power outages will be open until midnight Tuesday to accommodate the "late" registrants, he said. But Melo stressed that those who are given the forms will have to return on Tuesday, as the forms they will get on Saturday do not automatically make them registered voters. “Kailangan nila magbalik pero kung di sila bumalik 'di sila makapa-register (They have to return on Tuesday, or else they will not be able to register)," he said. Meanwhile, he also instructed Comelec registration center personnel not to leave their posts, and to accommodate registrants once power is restored within the day. “Kung ma-restore ang power natin at anytime today ang Comelec people tatanggapin ang gusto mag-register (Once power is restored, Comelec personnel should accommodate those who want to register)," he said. Meanwhile, Melo downplayed a petition lodged before the Supreme Court to have the Comelec extend the registration to January 1. While he said the Comelec will respect the Supreme Court’s decision, he warned there will be no time to prepare the voters’ lists for automation if the registration period is extended. “We will respect the Supreme Court’s decision but if we extend this to January our Board of Election Inspectors will have no lists to work with, and voters will not know their assignments," he said. - GMANews.TV