- MITCH M. LIPA
The Bacolod Commission on Elections said the last week of the extended voter registration, starting Oct. 25, until Oct. 30, will be held at the University of St. La Salle, adding that they are again expecting an influx of applicants.
Atty. Kathrina Trinio-Caña, Bacolod election officer, said the registration will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for 300 registrants a day only, including 100 in the priority lane, since personnel will only render office-hour service.
As of Oct. 22, Comelec Bacolod logged 2,456 new applicants since the start of the extended registration Oct. 11, until Oct. 23, when these were held at SM and Ayala malls as well as the special satellite registration at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
On Oct. 18, members of the Bacolod Election Registration Board also conducted a hearing for the 20,527 registrants who applied from July 1 to Sept. 30. Initially, 99 applications were under protest over residency qualification, but 64 petitions were eventually withdrawn.
Caña said only 35 applicants remain under protest, and the ERB will make its decision this week. She added that less than 10 applications will be disqualified.
The Comelec said Nov. 11 has been set as a special day for ERB hearings for registrants during the extended period of list-up for the May 2022 elections. – MML
