Comelec halts voter registration in Batanes due to Typhoon Julian

MANILA, Philippines —  The Commission on Elections (Comelec) regional office in Batanes stopped the voter registration in the province on Monday due to the inclement weather brought on by Typhoon Julian (international name: Krathon), according to its chair George Garcia.

Garcia earlier announced extending the deadline for voter registration in typhoon-hit areas in Northern Luzon as it authorized its regional offices to impose the suspension.

READ: Local poll execs in Julian-hit areas can extend voter registration – Comelec

“More or less, yung probinsya lang po muna ng Batanes ang nagsabi na i-su-suspend. Yung ibang mga probinsya kahit yung Cagayan, Abra at Benguet at ‘yung mga nasa iba pang Northern Luzon provinces ay nagsabi naman na itutuloy nila,” the Comelec chair said.

(More or less, only Batanes province suspended voter registration. The other provinces, even Cagayan, Abra, and Benguet, and those in other Northern Luzon provinces said they would continue.)

In case there was a need for a special registration, Garcia said that Comelec may allot a day for it after the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs).

Garcia likewise assured the public that they have not monitored any election-related incidents caused by locals.

He, however, pointed out that some areas may postpone the filing of COCs on Tuesday due to bad weather.

“So, dun po sa mga lugar na apektado ngayon ng bagyo, dyan lang po kayo sa mga bahay-bahay niyo, at yung mga mag-file ng candidacy, abangan nyo na lang po yung announcement po ng mga local Comelec natin at kung talagang hindi matutuloy by tomorrow sa inyo yung filing, huwag po kayo mag-alala,” Garcia said.

(So, in the areas currently affected by the typhoon, locals should stay indoors. Those who will file for their candidacy, wait for the announcement of our local Comelec, and don’t worry.)

“Willing naman po kami magdagdag ng araw o magbigay ng isa pang araw para lang mapunan yung isang araw na nawala na hindi nakapag-file ng certificates of candidacy,” he added.

(We are willing to allow an extra day to make up for the day the filing was supposedly scheduled.)

Earlier, Comelec said eligible voters can register at the office of the election officer or satellite registration office in their area from Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, the filing of COCs will occur from October 1 to 8.