Sara Duterte urges Comelec to modernize poll system

DAVAO CITY--Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio lauded the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the successful barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls, but urged the commission to modernize its system to address the perennial election issues.

Mayor Sara said the issues hounding the country's electoral process such as vote buying, flying voters, harassment, and other fraudulent schemes are meant to subvert the will of the people.

"These were made possible by the antiquated system that we use in the registration of voters and in casting our votes," she said in a press statement on Tuesday.

Duterte-Carpio said the Comelec should take advantage of the technology and how it could help the people reflect the true choices of the electorate.

"I hope to see the day when we cast our votes using the fingerprint voting system," she said.

Despite the recurring issues, the mayor said there were no major incidents in the city during the May 14 elections.

"Congratulations to the men and women of the Comelec, Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who served and made the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections a successful democratic exercise in Davao City and the entire country," she said.

The mayor also congratulated the winners, especially those who shunned violence and upheld professionalism, integrity, and honesty.

"I hope that you continue to hold these values as you serve the people," she said.

Duterte-Carpio said the DepEd, PNP and AFP should implement the policy that no teacher, policeman or soldier be removed, transferred or reprimanded because of complaints from candidates.

"Any complaint against them should be formally filed with the correct office and afforded due process," she stressed. (Armando Fenequito Jr/PNA)