Voter’s registration now among the government services offered at SM

by SM - @Brand Zone | September 7, 2021

SM Supermalls and Commission on Elections (COMELEC) have officially teamed up to provide voters with more registration venues at SM. After signing a Memorandum of Agreement last August 27, 2021, at Level 2 South Entertainment Mall SM Mall of Asia, COMELEC has opened satellite registration centers in SM Supermalls nationwide. This gives the public a safer, more convenient option amidst the prevailing Covid health crisis.

COMELEC is the latest government agency to partner with the mall chain in bringing basic government services closer to the public. Other in-mall government services include Covid vaccination, international vaccine certification at the Bureau of Quarantine satellite office, National ID registration, passport application and express services from government agencies such as PAGIBIG, PhilHealth, SSS, and GSIS.

With the approaching September 30 registration deadline, a good turnout of registrants is expected. In view of this, health and safety standards will be strictly observed. The voter’s registration center, like all other government service centers in the mall, is required to follow the Safety Protocols issued by the IATF. COMELEC shall limit the number of registrants per day. Execution of health declaration forms, checking of body temperature and physical distancing along with the mandatory face mask and face shields will be enforced on site.

47 SM Supermalls across the country will participate in this effort. This will help ease and unburden registration traffic in barangays, providing the public with a more convenient, faster and safer way to access the registration process.

For SM Supermalls with the Voter’s Registration Center and schedules, visit

https://www.smsupermalls.com/whats-new/voters-registration-now-among-the-governmentservices-offered-at-sm/ or follow @smsupermalls on all social media accounts.

Empleyado ng Comelec, pinagbabaril, patay

ni Lolet Abania | August 10, 2021

Patay ang isang empleyado ng Maguindanao Provincial Election Office ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) matapos na pagbabarilin ng hindi nakilalang salarin habang naglalaro ng chess sa Cotabato City nu'ng Martes nang umaga.

Kinilala ni City Police Precinct 2 commander Captain Rustum Pastolero ang biktimang si Jonathan Pagadas Ganta, 43, casual employee at residente ng Purok Balabaran, Rosary Heights 10, kung saan nangyari ang krimen.

Ayon sa mga awtoridad, naganap ang insidente bandang alas-8:30 nang umaga habang ang biktima ay naglalaro ng chess kasama ang mga kaibigan sa kanyang bahay. Isang hindi nakikilalang armadong suspek ang biglang pinagbabaril ang biktima gamit ang M-16 automatic rifle na agad nitong ikinamatay.

Gayundin, isang “padyak” driver na nakilalang si Guiamad Utto Akmad ang isinugod sa ospital matapos na tamaan ng ligaw na bala.

Base sa inisyal na imbestigasyon, ayon kay Pastolero, posibleng si Ganta lamang ang target ng suspek na maaari umanong may kaugnayan sa kanyang trabaho.

“Based on the revelations from the close relatives, it could possibly be [due to] a work-related motive,” sabi ni Pastolero.

Nakatakdang ilibing ang biktima sa Martes batay sa burial tradition ng mga Muslim sa Guindulungan, Maguindanao. Dadaluhan naman ang libing ni Ganta ng kanyang mga co-employees mula sa Comelec.

Iwas-COVID… Shake hands, beso-beso, free food, bawal sa kampanya

ni Lolet Abania | July 13, 2021

Anumang pagpapakita ng public display of affection (PDA) ay hindi papayagan sa panahon ng pangangampanya para sa 2022 elections sa gitna ng patuloy na panganib ng COVID-19, ayon sa Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Sa ginanap na forum ng House Committee on People’s Participation para sa 2022 elections, aminado si Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez na ang PDA ay bahagi na ng sistema ng pangangampanya sa bansa.

Kabilang dito ang pagkamay ng mga kandidato sa mga botante at maging ang paghalik nito sa mga beybi na nasa komunidad sa campaign period.

Subalit, ayon kay Jimenez sa panahon na may krisis ngayon sa kalusugan, ang ganitong gawain ay ipinagbabawal.

“Public displays of affection used to be part of the whole idea of campaigning, as they say. Politicians go out to shake hands and kiss babies. You’re not gonna be able to do that anymore ‘cause that will certainly be very risky behavior,” ani Jimenez sa forum ngayong Martes.

“That qualifies as a public display of affection and that will have to be strictly regulated,” dagdag niya.

Paliwanag naman ni Jimenez na ang mass gatherings ay hindi maaaring i-banned agad-agad sa darating na election season subalit kinakailangan ng paghihigpit sa panahon na ito.

Ang pamamahagi ng mga pagkain sa mga voters ay ipinagbabawal din.

“They will be smaller, they will be strictly controlled and in-rally behaviors would be different,” sabi ng opisyal.

“We will not be allowing food to be served at the mass gatherings anymore,” pahayag niya.

Ayon pa kay Jimenez, dapat ding mayroong koordinasyon sa mga barangay health system dahil ang sitwasyon sa ngayon ay naiiba kumpara sa mga nakaraang eleksiyon.