ARMM general voters registration begins today

By Danilo E. Doguiles

Monday 9th of July 2012

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, July 9 (PIA) -- The 10-day general re-registration of voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where at least a million voters are expected to be listed, began at 8 a.m. today.

Data-capturing machines of the Commission on Election (Comelec) are also expected to have been put in place in various registration centers in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

In June, Congress passed a joint resolution annulling all Books of Voters in cities and towns in the autonomous region and subsequently instructing the Comelec to hold a general registration.

The general list-up of voters will last until July 18.

“There will be no extension in the voters’ registration, so we call on the residents to please come out and register within the 10 days allotted for this purpose,” Comelec regional director Rey Sumalipao said.

According to Comelec, any Filipino citizen residing in the ARMM, at least 18 years old on or before May 13, 2013, a resident of the Philippines for at least one year and of the area where he intends to vote for at least six months, and is not disqualified from voting may register in designated registration centers.

Registration will begin with the personal appearance before the election officer, stating the name, exact address, and presentation of identification documents such as employee ID, postal ID, student ID, driver’s license, NBI/police clearance, senior citizen ID, passport, SSS ID, PRC ID, IBP ID, or any other valid IDs.

Registrants will be allowed to vote in the May 2013 synchronized ARMM and national midterm elections.

Sumalipao said at least 1,896 election officers from all over the country have been deployed as augmentation to the on-going voters’ registration. Biometrics machines from other regions were also deployed.

In some areas, especially in remote barangays that lack electricity, power generators were also positioned.

Total gun ban is effective since July 1 until July 23 in the five provinces of ARMM as well as in Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, Cotabato City, and Sultan Kudarat province.

Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat along with Maguindanao were declared under state of emergency after the Maguindanao massacre in November 2009; the declaration has not yet been lifted.

Since the implementation of the total gun ban on July 1 three firearms have been confiscated and two persons arrested.

PNP –ARMM director P/CSupt. Mario Avenido believes the gun ban would entice more residents to register. (DED-PIA 12)