The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will no longer include barangay clearance from the requirements for voter registration, as its issuance is being abused by unscrupulous individuals.

Speaking during the monthly Balitaan forum of the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA) at the Harbor View Restaurant in Ermita on Thursday, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said barangay certificates have been “weaponized” by some people for purposes of having flying voters.

“To avoid that, we are removing barangay certificates as part of the requirements (for voter registration),” Garcia said.

“This is the first time that we will no longer accept such certificate. We will remove barangay certificate from the enumeration of what can be used as proof of residency.”

Garcia noted that in some instances, there were as many as 9,000 to 30,000 voters who appeared to have transferred from one barangay to another through the manipulation of unscrupulous barangay officials.

The exclusion of barangay certificate as a requirement will be implemented during the July 1 to 11 voter registration for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

It will also be implemented during the planned voter registration next year for the 2028 presidential elections.

Garcia said the Comelec is ready to defend itself in case anyone challenges such move before the Supreme Court.

BSKE, 2028 polls

During the same forum, Garcia said they are expecting three million additional voter-registrants for the 2028 elections, which will bring to 71 million the total number of voters.

There were 68 million registered voters during the May 12 midterm elections.

The Comelec chief also explained that unlike in the national and local elections where aspirants are officially considered as candidates only when the campaign period starts, the candidates in the BSKE are already considered as such the moment they file their certificates of candidacy.

He warned that they may be charged with premature campaigning if start promoting their candidacy before the filing period, which is set on Oct. 1 to 7.

The BSKE is scheduled on Dec. 1, 2025. (PNA)