THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Mandaue City has addressed concerns about alleged fraudulent voter registrations by emphasizing residency and identification requirements for registrants.
Atty. Anna Fleur Gujilde, Mandaue’s Election Officer IV, clarified that individuals may register to vote if they present a valid ID and declare their Mandaue City address.
She stressed that registrants submit voter registration records under oath, making them liable for any false declarations.
She also explained that voters must reside in Mandaue City for at least six months before election day, which falls on May 12, 2025.
This means they should have been living in the city since at least November 2024 to qualify.
Gujilde pointed out that there is a common misunderstanding that residency must be established six months before registration, when in fact, the requirement is counted from election day.
To register, applicants must present a government-issued ID. If they do not have one, they may use a Barangay Certificate with a photo. She clarified that either document would suffice.
'Flying voters'
Gujilde’s clarifications came after allegations of voter fraud in Mandaue surfaced.
Former Subangdaku Barangay Captain Ernie Manatad has filed cases before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities, seeking to exclude more than 600 registered voters whom he claims are fictitious or improperly transferred.
Running for city councilor under Team Mandaue of former Mayor Jonas Cortes, Manatad alleged that political rivals strategically transferred registrants to barangays allied with Mandaue Lone District Representative Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon.
He also raised concerns that barangay officials may have issued questionable residency certificates, allowing non-residents to register.
According to Manatad, assistance programs targeting the employment sector, such as security guards and store clerks, contributed to these alleged irregularities.
He claimed that one program required voter registration even for individuals who did not actually reside in Mandaue.
Ouano-Dizon refuted the accusations, dismissing them as politically motivated ahead of the 2025 elections.
She criticized her opponents for focusing on allegations rather than making meaningful contributions to Mandaue.
She asserted that making accusations requires no effort, unlike actual governance.
Ouano-Dizon emphasized that her team remains focused
on delivering programs and services for the city instead of engaging in political disputes.
She maintained that their initiatives benefit Mandauehanons and that their work speaks louder than words.
Manatad’s camp insists that their claims are backed by an investigation conducted from December 27, 2024, to January 20, 2025. They argue that many transferee voters could not be located at their registered addresses.
With Mandaue City’s voter count surpassing 236,000 for the upcoming elections, Manatad is calling for stricter oversight of the registration process.(MyTVCebu)