Press Release
July 10, 2009

Loren asks Comelec to act on biometrics issue

Senator Loren Legarda urged today the Commission on Election (Comelec) to use the remaining time before the 2010 election to ensure that all registered voters would have their biometric data on file with the commission.

Loren issued the call in the face of a Comelec pronouncement that it does not have the biometric data of some 25 million voters.

The senator also called on the commission to make a clear and emphatic statement whether or not those without biometric date would be able to vote in the 2010 elections.

"The Comelec must be clear about this issue because the confusion on biometrics being a requirement or not in 2010 may result to voters being prevented from voting due to incorrect information at the precinct level," she said.

She urged the commission to do everything possible to ensure that the 25 million voters lacking biometric information like digitally captured pictures, signatures and thumb prints are not disenfranchised.

"The Comelec is partly responsible if many voters had not bothered to have their biometrics taken because of an earlier pronouncement by the commission that it was not mandatory under the Poll Automation Law," she said.

"But now that the budget for Poll Automation Law had been appropriated, the Comelec is now saying that voters must have their biometric data taken by the Comelec."

Loren said there is still time for all voters to have their biometrics taken, adding the Comelec only need to undertake a massive information campaign through newspapers, radio and television, asking voters to go to Comelec offices where their biometrics can be taken.

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