Barbers seeks longer election registration period, stiffer penalties vs. flying voters

Surigao Del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers has filed resolutions seeking to amend the election registration period as well as to increase penalties against flying voters.

House Bill 8371 imposes stiffer penalties on flying voters, or persons making false statements relative to any of the data or information required in the application for registration.

Flying voters likewise have double or multiple registrations.

The proposed penalty for these violators include a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P1 million and imprisonment of not less than six years but not more than 12 years.

Meanwhile, In House Bill 8372, Barbers is pushing for an amendment to the period of election registration from 120 days to one year before a regular election.

“These bills will give the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ample time to check the legitimacy of the voter's information and to clean up the Comelec's voters list," Barbers said.

Barbers pointed out that corrupt officials are able to hold power due to vote buying and employing flying voters.

“These illegal practices have long been causing inaccurate and false reflection of who the people want to represent or lead them. We’re always going to hear about cases of voter fraud, but I believe that there is hope for our integrity as a nation,” he said.

Barbers believe that the measures he proposed aim to bring the nation closer to achieving election results that are reflective of the will of the people.

“It’s about time we ensure the veracity and efficiency of our voting processes. And through these legislations, I hope honest and clean politics will soon prevail,” Barbers added. — Erwin Colcol/BM, GMA News