abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/31/2009 6:26 PM
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MANILA - In the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Quezon City, thousands came early, some were already there by dawn.
Some passed time by complaining. Others slept to pass the boredom and the agony of waiting long hours for their turn.
The registration had just started in the morning, and already, angry voices were raised.
"Kanina pa kami nakapila dito, tapos yung mga ngayon lang nakapila, sumisingit. Di pwede yan,” shouted one citizen.
Others patiently stood in line. But even their tempers flared when the Comelec officer announced they had run out of registration forms.
"Wala talagang sistema. Tagal naming pumila tapos sasabihin lang na wala ng form. Malabo talaga ito,” exclaimed another citizen.
A Comelec encoder explained there were no more available forms because since the start of October, they had already released 8,000 forms.
The Comelec just provided the voters with temporary numbers, which would be called out once new forms become available.
"Ngayon sila nagkukumahog, last day na. Di totoo na yung nasa perimeter sa cut-off time ay tatanggapin pa. Yun lang huling hindi nag-abot ng form dun sa di makaabot, pasensiyahan na lang,” said Florida Ortiz de Guia, Comelec election officer in Quezon City said.
Same in provinces
The same scenario was observed in various Comelec offices all over Metro Manila.
Many people just decided to go home without having been registered, out of frustration.
In Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, registrants who were determined to register slept through the waiting hours in the Comelec offices.
Some even resorted to cooking food right where they maintained their slot in the line.
In Cagayan de Oro, the huge number of registrants could not fit in the registration room.
In Iligan City, pushing and shoving were the ways to secure the much sought-after registration form.
A public interest lawyer, Ernesto Francisco, tried a last minute remedy. He filed a petition with the Comelec seeking to extend the registration period to midnight of November 30.
But the poll body rejected Francisco's appeal.
"No more extension because we may not be able to finish the book of voters kung ie-extend pa, said Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer.
Registrants may blame it on Comelec for its lack of personnel, insufficient capturing machines and registration forms, which caused chaos in the registration process.
But one should not also forget, the registration period had been ongoing since December last year.
It goes without saying, maybe the Filipinos' alleged mañana habit may have a lot to do with the misery thousands of filipinos are suffering from right now, in the Comelec offices. – report from Monica Magpantay, ANC
Iyan po ang ugaling Pilipino. Alwayas in the last minute. Kapag hindi nakapag-register, ibabaling ang galit sa comelec at sa Goyerno na sasabihing walang kaayusan ang registration.
Please mga kabayan, look at yourself first baka mas madumi ka sa sinsabihan mong marumi.
Submitted by dave davidson on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 18:54.
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