Police Precinct 1 commander, Chief Insp. Levy Pangue, yesterday said he has requested for additional policemen from the Bacolod City Police Office because they anticipate that many applicants will try to beat the deadline or the last day of registration for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in Bacolod City today.

Pangue said the last day will be a critical day for the registration period so they are requesting for a team composed of 12 more policemen.

He recalled that 14 applicants had fainted during the stampede at the BAYS Center Sunday and yesterday another also lost consciousness because of the number of registrants who flocked to the BAYS Center. Personnel of Patrol 117 have been on alert during the registration at the COMELEC Bacolod Field Office, he added.

Pangue said about 2,000 applicants were allowed to enter the BAYS Center at 8 p.m. Monday so there was a little tension again yesterday morning when other registrants arrived until the Mayor came to appeal to them. But he said the situation was under control.

Mayor Monico Puentevella explained to the applicants at the BAYS Center that the COMELEC could only accommodate 600 to 700 registrants a day.

He said if the registration has become chaotic, it is the COMELEC Manila that should be blamed. He said he will call up Malacañang to inform them of the situation in Bacolod.

“COMELEC Chairman Sixto Brillantes, I hope this will reach you since it is the LGU’s (local government units) in the Philippines that are being affected,” Puentevella said in an interview over ABS CBN.

Bacolod Councilor Caesar Distrito yesterday wrote COMELEC chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. to extend the registration of voters for the October 28 Barangay and SK elections to allow applicants in Bacolod City to register.

Bacolod Election Officer Mavil Majarucon-Sia earlier said they only have 14 personnel and three biometric machines and that they could only accommodate 600 to 700 SK and regular applicants per day. They entertain applicants on a first come-first served basis, she said.

Majarucon-Sia also reminded the applicants to ensure that their forms are compete and their data correct. They should also bring their birth certificates and make sure they have a photocopy of all their requirements, she said.

She appealed for the cooperation of the public since they are trying to observe the procedures established by the COMELEC to ensure that they come out with a credible list of voters.

Majarucon-Sia said they will post the list of new applicants on August 5 and the first day for filing an opposition is on August 8, while the Election Registration Board hearing will be on August 12.*CGS

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