Cellphone use barred inside polling precincts on May 9

The Commission on Elections on Saturday reminded voters not to bring cellphones inside polling precincts on Election Day on May 9.

"Hindi po pwedeng gamitin ang cellphone sa loob ng presinto for the voters," Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said at a press conference on Saturday.

Bautista said the prohibition was covered in a resolution signed by the Comelec en banc on Tuesday.

The ban on the use of cellphones inside polling precincts was decided on to prevent illegal activities such as vote-buying.

"Kasi alam natin 'yung cellphone nga baka gamitin para sa, well, unang-una, vote buying. Kaya ayaw natin kinukunan ng litrato 'yung kanila balota o kanilang resibo. 'Yung pagtawag at pag-text kasi nga baka again meron ginagawang mga paraan ang ibang kandidato para makalamang sa araw ng halalan," Bautista added.

He also said the Comelec wants to make the conduct of the elections orderly.

"Also, we want to kahit papaano maintain again the orderliness within the polling precincts, kasi 'pag may nagsasalita 'di ba baka makagulo pa 'yun. So 'yan ang dahilan kaya natin pinagbawal," Bautista said.

He clarified that the ban on the use of cellphones covers taking of photos, texting, and calling.

"Hindi pwede gamitin. What we say 'wag gamitin, hindi lang pagkuha ng litrato, hindi din pwede mag-text o mag-call," he said.

The poll chief said they thought of confiscating cellphones but there were factors to consider. "Iniisip namin na kukunin, kaya lang masyadong masalimuot. Ang storage, baka mawala pa," he added.

Bautista however said the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) are allowed to bring their cellphones which they can use in case there is an emergency.

"Basta ang rule lang is, bawal gumamit ng cellphone sa loob ng presinto. And this only for the voters, hindi naman po ito for the BEIs. Kunwari merong emergency then puede nilang gamitin 'yung telepono. Pero mga voters naman puede nilang gamitin 'yung telepono sa labas noong precincts," Bautista said. —KG, GMA News