By Bonita Ermac
Correspondent,
and Nora C. Soriño
Iligan City Bureau Chief
PUALAS, Lanao del Sur — A dispute has arisen in Pualas over the location of a Commission on Elections voter registration site, which town officials say is being held on private property rather than at the official municipal hall.
The registration is in preparation for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections. The registration covers young people ages 15 and up for the Sangguniang Kabataan, as well as those who want to reactivate their registration, transfer from abroad, correct entries and update records.
Town officials have protested that the voter registration is being conducted in Barangay Danugan instead of the municipal hall in Barangay Talambo.
Executive Assistant to the Mayor Raima Cabaro said a July 1 Sangguniang Bayan resolution signed that all government offices be transferred to a new town hall. A separate resolution did not recognize the temporary office in Danugan.
“Nakalagay doon sa karatula ‘temporary municipal hall,’ so it was not recognized as a government office o government place na pweding mag held ng office ang LGU,” Cabaro said.
A letter was sent to Comelec Chairman George Garcia requesting a relocation of the office from Danugan to Talambo, and officials are awaiting approval.
Election Officer Imelda Cayongcat said the registration was being held in Danugan because that is where she found the previous setup. She said she is ready to move as soon as she receives a formal order.
Lanao del Sur Comelec Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Renault Macarambon explained that the current Comelec office was formerly the municipal building of the previous administration. He said there is now a request from a new mayor to transfer it to the new municipal hall.
“Walang problema po iyon, because under the law especially section 55 of BP 881, ang set ng election officer pati provincial supervisor is shouldered by the local government, kaya iyong provincial office ng election supervisor dito sa probinsiya, at iyong munisipyo ― doon sa munisipyo,” Macarambon said.
He added that new registrants will not be able to vote in the upcoming Barmm elections. According to guidelines, only voters registered from the last national elections are permitted to vote.
“Sa ngayon, nasa 695,669 registered voters in Lanao del Sur ang pinapayagang bumuto para na sa susunod na BSKE,” he said.
Despite the issue, the registration process has gone smoothly. A total of 7,156 new registrants have been recorded as of this writing, and the registration will continue until Aug. 10.
“Itong kasalukuyang registration ay hindi pa magagamit sa Barmm election, kun di sa susunod na BSKE. Kaya hinikayat po namin ang mga mag 15 at mag 18 years old na magpa rehistro. Wala pong transfer of registration ngayon, bagong registration lang po ang tinatanggap,” Macarambon explained.
