MANILA, Sept. 20 (PNA) — After finding them clear of any political affiliations, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that eight prospective mall partners are qualified as venues for the planned mall-based voting in the May 2016 national and local polls.
Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said they conducted a background check on the possible connection with politicians of the mall owners that are supportive of the plan to hold voting in malls.
“We checked the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) in 2010 and 2013 and we did not find any names like Henry Sy or Ayala. We didn’t find any of their names,” he added.
The eight malls that have signified interest to support the undertaking are SM Supermalls; Ayala Malls; Robinsons Malls; Gaisano Grand Malls; Megaworld Lifestyle Malls; Pacific Malls/Metro Gaisano; WalterMart Community Malls; and Fisher Mall.
Bautista said the malls that are owned by politicians, such as Gateway Mall or Araneta Mall, which is owned by the family of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel A. Roxas II, and StarMalls, which is owned by the family of Senator Cynthia Villar of the Nacionalista Party (NP) are not being considered.
“We did not involve them because it is provided for by the Omnibus Election Code that the mall owner should not be a candidate,” he explained.
Section 42 of the Omnibus Election Code provides that in case there is no public school or other public building that can be used as polling places, other appropriate private buildings may be designated.
However, the law states that such private buildings must not be “owned or occupied or possessed by any incumbent elective public official or candidate, or his relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.”
Under the proposal, the Comelec will transfer polling centers that are adjacent to malls.
Meanwhile, the poll body chief said that members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) as well as security guards of the malls will not be allowed near the polling center inside the malls.
“It is made clear that within that space that will be provided to Comelec, it will be the Comelec that will have direct control and supervision over that space,” said Bautista.
If deemed necessary, however, he said they can tap the assistance of mall security guards as well as the authorities.
Section 192 of the Omnibus Election Code states that it is unlawful for any member of the AFP or PNP and even security guards to enter any polling place.
However, if deemed necessary, the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) may call the police, military, or any peace officer to provide protection to them or the election documents and paraphernalia. (PNA)