BAYAN MUNA Representative Neri Colmenares (File photo)
DAVAO CITY — Makabayan Senatorial candidate Rep. Neri Colmenares called on the Commission on Elections to fully implement the law that provides wider accessibility of polling places to the elderly and the persons with disabilities.
Colmenares said on Friday that the Republic Act. 10366 “is beneficial and will aid the senior citizens and persons with disabilities to have a better voting experience and would not be disenfranchised.”
“The law will benefit the approximately one million persons with disability and five million senior citizens who for a long time are having difficulty in exercising their right to vote because of physical limitations,” he said.
Republic Act 10366 states that it is an act authorizing the Commission on Elections to Establish Precincts Assigned to Accessible Polling Places Exclusively for Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens which clearly mandates to ensure their right to participate in the electoral process.
According to Colmenares, he saw precincts that are mocked up somewhere in Cubao and hopes that this will not be done to all other precincts this coming 2016 election.
“We just need the proper implementation of the law and not rely on mall voting that may still be questioned at the Supreme Court,” Colmenares said.
Colmenares is one of the principal authors of the House Bill that was signed by President Benigno Aquino on February 15, 2013 that will help enable persons with disabilities and senior citizens to register and vote by themselves without discrimination or restrictions.(davaotoday.com)
