Youth groups ask SC for extension of voters’ registration

MANILA, Philippines—Various youth groups have asked the Supreme Court for an extension of voters’ registration as they assail the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of “unconstitutional exercise of legislative power” when it set October 31 as deadline.

The petitioners led by Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino told the high court that Comelec Resolution 8585, setting October 31 as deadline for registration of voters, violates election laws and the Constitution.

It will also disenfranchise first time registrants, they said, asking the high court to order the Comelec to extend the registration of voters until January 9 next year.

In their petition, the youth groups said the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 provides that the filing of application of registration of voters shall be conducted daily until 120 days before a regular election or 90 days before a special election is held.

Therefore they said the start of the 120-day prohibitive period before the May 10, 2010 elections is on January 10, next year.

“Thus, the deadline of application of registration of voters should be on January 9, 2010, not October 31, 2009 which is 70 days earlier than is prescribed by the statute,” the petitioners said.

But while they recognize the Comelec’s authority to promulgate its own rules and regulations, they said the poll body must not go beyond what has been provided for under the law.

“Thus, it cannot be gainsaid that by providing a period different than that prescribed under Section 8 of the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996, respondent Comelec has actually amended the said statute,” they said.

“And this is manifestly an unconstitutional exercise of legislative power, it is beyond the province of administrative agencies, thus a serious and grave violation of the 1987 Philippine Constitution,” the petitioners said.

Aside from Palatino, petitioners include National Union of Students of the Philippines president Alvin Peters, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines chairperson Ma. Cristina Angela Guevarra, Kabataan Party-List secretary general Vencer Mari E. Crisostomo, College Editors Guild of the Philippines president Vijae Alquisola, and Kabataan Artista Para sa Tunay na Kalayaan secretary general Dianne Kristel Asuelo.

Source: INQUIRER.net