RIGHT TO SUFFRAGE. Comelec chairman George Garcia speaks at the press conference inside Sitio Kapihan, Socorro, Surigao del Norte where a one-day satellite voter registration was held on Thursday (April 25, 2024). The Comelec chief said they are looking into establishing a polling precinct in the area. (PNA photo by Ferdinand Patinio)
SOCORRO, Surigao del Norte – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to set up a voting precinct at the Sitio Kapihan in Barangay Sering here for the May 2025 midterm elections.
“Pinag-aaralan ng Comelec na bakit hindi mag create ng presinto sa Sitio Kapihan. Kung may higit 2,000 na botante, bakit kakailanganin pa pumunta sa bayan kung pwede naman dalhin ang pagboto dito? (The Comelec is studying, 'why not create a precinct here in Sitio Kapihan?' If we have more than 2,000 voters, why do they need to go the town proper when we can bring the voting process here),” Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in a presser on Thursday on the sidelines of the poll body's satellite voter registration activity at the community of the members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI).
Garcia said this move would ensure that the community members would be able to vote without going through the hassle of travelling far.
Asked if their plan contradicts the order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the community's residents to relocate, Garcia said this is not among their concerns.
“Sa atin, ang kapangyarihan ng Comelec siguraduhin lahat makaboto.Walang iiwanan. Isang boses na di nadinig, isang boses na di nadidinig sa isang demokrasya (As for us, the Comelec's mandate is for to ensure that all will be able to vote. No one would be left behind. You make one voice unheard, you make the whole democracy unheard)," he said.
On April 8, the DENR canceled its agreement with the SBSI for violating the provisions of the tenurial instrument awarded in June 2004, covering 353 hectares in the Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS) in Surigao del Norte.
Once implemented, the DENR's order is expected to result in the relocation and resettlement of around 1,425 households based in Sitio Kapihan.
For his part, SBIS president Johann Lasala acknowledged the efforts of the poll body for bringing the registration activity to their areas.
“Maganda ang ginawa ng Comelec at dinala dito sa amin para makapag-register (It's good that the Comelec brought the registration activity here for us to be able to sign up as voters),” he said.
The area has more than 5,000 residents, almost half of whom are eligible to vote.
On the other hand, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have assured that the area will be safe and secure come the May 2025 polls. (PNA)
