Filipinos flocked to several Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices and satellites two days before voter registration for the 2022 national and local elections closes.
Amid long queues and overcrowding in registration offices, the Comelec en banc said there is a possibility that they will be extending the voter registration period to accommodate more applicants.
Yesterday (Sept. 27), both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed a bill extending the registration of voters here for another month.
The chamber approved House Bill 10261after 193 affirmative votes. The bill proposes an extension of the registration of voters for 2022 polls.
The Senate also unanimously approved Senate Bill 2408, an Act Extending the Registration of Voters for the similar matter. The senators agreed that “the Comelec needed to be compelled to move the deadline despite its continued rejection of the proposal.”
For the part of the Palace, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it is still waiting for the copies of the bills before President Rodrigo Duterte decides on this matter.
“Wala pa po ang papel sa Malacañang, pero wala pong nakikitang hadlang unless sa pag-aaral ng legal department ng Office of the Executive Secretary ay mayroong legal objection, pero sa tingin ko naman po ay walang objection,” Roque said in a public briefing on Tuesday (Sept. 28).
Currently, the Comelec set the deadline for voter registration on Thursday (Sept. 30). – Report from Rod Lagusad / CF – rir
