IN THE MATTER OF AMENDING SECTIONS 5 AND 6 OF COMELEC RESOLUTION NO. 8678, PROMULGATED OCTOBER 6, 2009, ENTITLED:  “GUIDELINES ON THE FILING OF CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY AND NOMINATION OF OFFICIAL CANDIDATES OF REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 10, 2010 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS”

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RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE FILING OF MANIFESTATION OF INTENT TO PARTICIPATE, AND SUBMISSION OF NAMES OF NOMINEES UNDER THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATION,  IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 10, 2010 AUTOMATED NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS.

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IN THE MATTER OF THE DEPUTATION OF THE PROSECUTORS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO HANDLE ELECTION OFFENSE CASES.

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“Registered voters who haven’t had their biometrics captured need not panic. They can still vote in 2010.”

COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez issued this clarification Wednesday after news items came out saying that voters whose biometrics were not captured during their registration will not be allowed to cast their vote.

Jimenez explained that of the more than 45 million registered voters nationwide, more than half have yet to submit their biometrics using the poll body’s data capturing machines.

“So long as your name is included in the voters list, you will be allowed to vote,” he said, adding that voters’ identification cards (IDs) is also not a requirement on Election Day. ###

With ten days left before the October 31, 2009 deadline, the Commission on Elections has reiterated its call for qualified voters nationwide to register.

“We are aware that a lot of Filipinos choose to register at the last minute. So in order to accommodate them and also to address the growing crowds at our field offices as we near the registration deadline, the COMELEC en banc has ordered the extension of office hours in all registration centers nationwide.  Registration is also extended until Sundays in calamity areas of Luzon,” said COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez.

The poll body spokesman said starting October 22, 2009 until October 30, 2009, registration hours in COMELEC field offices nationwide will now be until 9:00 PM.  On October 31, the last day of registration, COMELEC offices will be open until midnight, he said.

Jimenez also added that the COMELEC has allowed voters registration on Sundays (October 18 and 25) but only in calamity stricken areas of Luzon such as Regions I, II, III, IV-A, V, CAR, and NCR.

Meanwhile, Jimenez said voters’ registration in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will run daily (Mondays to Sundays) from October 19, 2009 until October 31, 2009 according to COMELEC Minute Resolution No. 09-0661.

Jimenez however noted that voters’ validation will be suspended to give way for new registrants. ###

On October 18 and 25, 2009, Offices of the Elections Officers in Regions I, II, III, IV-A, V, CAR and NCR shall be open for registration from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

With the onslaught of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” which resulted to series of blackouts, flashfloods and landslides in the aforementioned areas, the conduct of the continuing registration on the said areas was hampered.  In line with this, the Commission authorized its field personnel in the said regions to render overtime services for the two remaining Sundays of October.

“To make up for the days wherein registration was suspended in the areas affected by the past two typhoons, the Commission deemed it necessary to conduct Sunday registration so as to give time for those who have not yet  registered,” Jimenez said.  “In regions not affected by the typhoon, registration is from Mondays to Saturdays”.

Those who are not yet registered have until October 31, 2009 to file their applications for registration in the Offices of the Election Officers in the city/municipality where they reside.

The Commission on Elections has declared October 16, 2009 as Special Registration Day for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in six (6) cities namely, Cagayan De Oro City, Davao City, Cabanatuan City, Zambonga City, IloIlo City and San Fernando City in Pampanga.

Aside from the declaration of Special Registration Day, special arrangements shall also be made for voter with disabilities who are unable to walk and whose polling precinct is located at the second floor of the polling center so that they may be able to vote without having to be carried up.

EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR EN BANC MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS HELD ON OCTOBER 13, 2009

IN THE MATTER OF AUTHORIZING THE RENDITION OF OVERTIME SERVICES BY COMELEC FIELD PERSONNEL IN REGIONS I, II, III, IV-A, V, CAR AND NCR ON OCTOBER 18 AND 25, 2009 9SUNDAYS)

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