Comelec to extend brgy, SK poll registration for Muntinlupa

Following a fire that hit the city hall there, the Commission on Elections will extend the registration for new voters for the October 29 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls in Muntinlupa City. Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr said on Sunday that the Comelec will issue a formal resolution on Monday to extend the period of registration for new voters. “Bukas maaring magkaroon ng formal resolution to extend period of registration for Muntinlupa. Nasunog ang records doon. Pero ito sa bago lang, 'di sa luma. Ang dati nang registered huwag sila mag-alala, intact ang record nila sa main office (We may come out with a formal resolution Monday to extend the registration period. The records of new voters appeared to be burned in the City Hall fire last Friday. But this is just for new voters. The records of older voters are intact at our headquarters)," Abalos said in an interview on dzXL radio. Fire believed caused by an electrical short circuit destroyed a residential area behind the City Hall compound, and extended to City Hall itself last Friday. Muntinlupa City mayor Aldrin San Pedro said they are now scrambling to look for another venue for City Hall, even as he admitted they will not be at 100 percent on Monday. On the other hand, Abalos lamented that registration in the provinces had been slow last Saturday, even as he braced for a last-minute wave of registrants Sunday. “Sa probinsya kahapon nilangaw ang mga registration center. Ugaling Pinoy 'yan. Tingnan natin ngayon baka ngayon sila magkaroon ng pansing gawin ang katungkulan para magrehistro, ngayon siguro dadami (Registration was slow in the provinces Saturday. It’s a Filipino trait, they want to wait until the last minute. We’ll see what happens today. We expect registrants to show up on the last day)," he said. But Abalos reminded last-minute registrants not to blame the Comelec if they fail to register Sunday because of long queues. He said President Arroyo already declared no classes for high schools last Friday to allow students to go to their home provinces and register. “Huwag na kami sisihin, huwag sana ganoon (Don’t blame us anymore, it shouldn’t be this way)," he said. - GMANews.TV