MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has allowed Indigenous Peoples (IPs) to register as voters even without presenting identification (ID) cards.
Based on Comelec Resolution 9427, the commission en banc said they will allow IPs to be registered through the use only of Affidavit of Identification.
“If the registrant has no valid identification card, he may be identified under oath before election officers using the Affidavit of Identification by any registered voter of the precinct or any of his relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity,” said the resolution promulgated on May 17.
No registered voter or relative will be allowed to identify applicants for more than three times, said the Comelec.
If available, the poll body said IPs may present the Certificate of Confirmation issued by the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP).
Comelec field offices normally require the presentation of IDs during registration, such as company IDs, postal IDs, student IDs, senior citizen IDs, driver’s license, police clearance, passport, SSS/GSIS IDs, Integrated Bar of the Philippines IDs, and Professional Regulatory Commission License.
The Comelec had earlier identified IPs as among the most disenfranchised voting groups along with the youth, elderly, detainees, and persons with disabilities.
IPs are defined as a group of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and ascription by others, who have continuously lived as organized community on communally-bounded and defined territory.
source: mb.com.ph
