VILLANUEVA, Misamis Oriental Vice Mayor Jeric Emano has alleged the mass transfer of voters from neighboring areas to the town ahead of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) registration deadline on September 30.
Emano expressed concern over the sudden influx of transfer applicants, particularly in the final days of voter registration.
He accused unidentified individuals of organizing the transport of voters from distant areas, a practice locally referred to as “hakot.”
“We believe these people have been brought in from far-flung places,” Emano said.
To address the issue, Emano plans to file a formal complaint with Comelec and will request a review of the residency status of the transfer applicants before the scheduled Election Registration Board (ERB) hearing in October.
Villanueva’s voter registry grew from 26,606 in 2023 to 28,413 by July 2024, with a further surge in applicants this week, according to Emano.
The vice mayor suggested that this significant increase might be due to the alleged voter hauling.
However, Villanueva’s Comelec Election Officer III Marian Capin downplayed the situation, stating that a rise in registration applications is common ahead of deadlines. “
This is a normal scenario,” she said, while assuring the public that all applications would undergo thorough review during the ERB hearing on October 14.
Capin acknowledged that some registrants had come from other municipalities and regions, but noted that they may have established residency in Villanueva, which would make them eligible for registration.
In response to the allegations, Emano said, “Peace be with you,” and questioned the motivation behind the influx of voters, given Villanueva’s status as a second-class municipality.
“Maybe they think there’s gold here,” he said in jest.
Despite the concerns raised, Comelec officials reiterated their openness to reviewing complaints and opposition before making any final decisions on the registrants’ eligibility.
