i TV Pinoy

Source: Timi Nubla, abs-cbnnews.com

-- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has extended the processing of applications of those who registered last October 31 until 12 midnight on Tuesday, November 3, to finish the biometrics process.

Beginning November 20, the Comelec will also not have weekends and holidays anymore as the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) will be done everyday, including weekends and holidays until 12 midnight of December 1 from the previous November 30.

November 16, meanwhile, is the last day of submission of specimen signatures for those authorized to sign nominations.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo expects that the voters' list should be finished by February 2010, and then sent to the field since the list of voters must be in the hands of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) on time.

A total of 5.6 million voters have been deactivated: those who failed to vote twice; the deceased; and, those who have been convicted.

Other problems in cleaning up the list of voters include having 50 to 60 people registered under the same address, and the case lodged by former Akbayan Rep. Etta Rosales of at least 600 centenarians registered in Taguig, all born on the same day January 1, 1901.

Melo encourages political parties to file cases for exclusion for such incidents.

On ballot printing, the printing office will have Closed-Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras, and the walls in the National Printing Office (NPO) also need to be knocked down because the Comelec needs more space.

Melo also shared that some entertaiment people who have intentions of running for public office have inquired if they would have to resign upon filing of COCs lest be acused of early campaigning.

Melo said there is no definite answer yet because this is the subject of a pending case at the Supreme Court. But personally, he believes they shouldn't have to resign because that's their source of livelihood.