MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to remove barangay certification as an option for proving one’s identity during registration after it was “weaponized” to move voters between jurisdictions to support certain candidates.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia announced the move in a press conference in Manila on Thursday, May 29, ahead of the poll body’s issuance of a resolution.
“Tinatanggal na po namin ang barangay certification bilang ebidensya na puwedeng gamitin para pagpapatunay daw na taga doon ‘yung mismong mga tao, dahil sa napakadami naming inimbestigahan at kinasuhan na mga barangay officials, dahil sa aming palagay ay ginamit, na-weaponize, upang mahakot ‘yung ibang tao doon sa ibang lugar para palabasin na sila ay taga-dito,” said Garcia.
(We are removing barangay certification as a form of evidence to prove someone’s residence because of the many barangay officials we have investigated and filed cases against, due to what we see as the weaponization [of the certification] to haul people to other areas and claim that that is where they live.)
“Hakot” translates to hauling, but has a specific connotation in Philippine politics where politicians round up their supporters.
Garcia said that there were areas where some 7,000, or 30,000 voters had transferred their registration using this means. One barangay captain who signed these barangay certifications was found to be a candidate.
Other identification documents the poll body considers in registration are national IDs, postal IDs, person with disability ID, student’s ID, and any other government-issued valid IDs.
The resolution containing the guidelines for registration is expected in the first week of June.
The poll body welcomed any challenge to the Supreme Court on the removal of barangay certification as an accepted registration requirement. Should the High Court rule that the Comelec restore it, the poll body will oblige, Garcia said.
The Comelec will open registration from July 1 to 11. After the recently concluded midterm national and local elections, two more elections are set to take place in 2025 — the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections in October, and the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in December. – Rappler.com