Comelec warns public vs fake voter IDs

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) advised the public Tuesday against fixers who manufacture and sell fake voters’ identification (ID) cards. In an entry on its blog site, the Comelec also called on public offices to be on the lookout for the spurious IDs proliferating in the country. "We are calling on the public not to transact with fixers when they apply for registration at Comelec offices nationwide. Bear in mind that voters’ registration is free and that the Comelec is the only government agency authorized to issue voters’ IDs," said Comelec spokesman James Arthur Jimenez. Jimenez said their field office in Pasig City had confiscated two fake voters’ IDs after the holder of the cards verified their registration record with the Comelec. The two unsuspecting Pasig voters later told Pasig City District II Election Officer, lawyer Frances Caroline Aguindadao that they paid P200 for the spurious IDs. Also, they said the fixers had posed as Comelec employees. Jimenez said the Comelec has ordered the matter investigated. "So when a fixer approaches you, offering to facilitate your registration and tempts you with an instant voter ID in exchange for a fee, it is almost certain that the ID is a fake. Worse, you run the risk of not being allowed to vote on Election Day," Jimenez said. Jimenez said the fake ID cards had the following "distinguishing" features: * The aspect ratio of the Comelec logo on the the front portion is not balanced. The logo appears to be oval in shape. * The watermark on the front portion is barely visible. * The signature of former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos is smaller than the signature on the authentic IDs. * In one of the IDs, a stamp inkpad was used for the thumb mark. * The IDs are manually signed by the voter. * The IDs are manually laminated. * The Comelec logo at the back portion is misaligned. * The yellow background on the Comelec logo at the back side appear to be darker than the authentic ID. - GMANews.TV