An incumbent barangay chairperson in Cavite City has challenged before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the application for voter registration of some 400 people, claiming they are not legitimate residents of the area.
In her Opposition to Register as Voter filed before the poll body, Azenith Paredes, chairperson of Barangay 25 (Capricorn), said the applicants, led by a certain Nikka Rose Ann Nepomuceno Alberto, are not bonafide residents of the barangay, which has around 300 registered voters.
Paredes filed her opposition before the Election Registration Board of Cavite City holds its initial hearing on Monday (March 6) on the said applications.
“Nag-file tayo sa Comelec ng opposition sa pagpapa-rehistro ng mga panibagong botante sa ating barangay. Ang mga aplikanteng ito ay nagpapanggap namga residente diumano ng ating barangay,” said Paredes, who also sits as Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president.
“Ang dagsaang paglipat sa ating barangay ng mga bagong aplikante sa registration (na ang bilang ay umaabot sa kulang-kulang 400 kung saan ito ay mahigit pa sa kasalukuyang registered voter sa ating barangay) ay malinaw na isang tangka upang alisan ng lakas sahalalan ang mga lehitimong residente ng atingbarangay,” she added.
To back up her claim, Paredes submitted sworn statements of owners and caretakers of the properties that were mentioned by the applicants as their residence when they filed their application for voter registration.
She also submitted the updated list of inhabitants of the Office of the Secretary, where the names of the applicants are not indicated as inhabitants of Brgy. 25 (Capricorn).
With these proofs, Paredes said the Comelec must reject their application as they have failed to meet the minimum requirements for registration as voters.
Paredes explained that she decided to file the petition to protect the rights of legitimate residents of Barangay 25 (Capricorn) to choose the right leader.
“Nais kong bigyang- linaw na hindi natin nilalayon na supilin ang karapatan ng ating mga kababayan upangmakaboto sa halalan, subalit nararapat lamang na ang mga botanteng marerehistro sa ating lugar ay ang mgalehitimong residente lamang ng ating barangay,” Paredes pointed out.
“Ito ay ating matapang na lalabanan. Ito ay hindilaban ng isang tao lamang. Ito ay laban ng lahat ng mgalehitimong residente ng ating barangay,” she added, hoping that that the Comelec would rule in her favor when the poll body releases its decision on the matter.
Should the challenged applicants for registration with the Comelec be proven as not bonafide residents of the barangay which they represent, they may face charges for appropriate crimes such as perjury or falsification and other election- related offenses, Paredes added.
