A recent report from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) indicated that some voters and registrants listed nonexistent, uninhabited, or irrelevant addresses in Makati, drawing attention. "During the verification, it was found that these registrants do not meet the requirements for residency, as they are not considered actual residents of the area," said Binay, emphasizing the need for thorough investigation into the activities of represented barangays that issue certificates without proper verification.
During the budget discussion in the Senate, Comelec confirmed significant and unusual increases in registered voters in Makati. The data indicated that 38,031 voter registrations from other cities and municipalities were recorded, along with 18,555 new registrations, totaling 56,586 voters. Criminal charges may be filed against the barangay representatives who have shown involvement in illegal practices of voter registration violations of election laws.
Binay called on Comelec to act quickly, stating: "These violations undermine public trust in the electoral process and must be addressed without delay." Senator Nensi Binay demanded full accountability from the barangay representatives, as others took advantage of issuing residency certificates for voter registration and their relocations, describing such practices as extremely abnormal and suspicious.
The Supreme Court's decision allows the use of barangay certificates as proof of residency in the absence of valid government-issued identification. This increase occurs irrespective of the fact that Makati lost 10 barangays due to the Supreme Court ruling on territorial jurisdiction in favor of Taguig.
"The data on Makati is clear," said Senator Imee Marcos. "It is incredibly unusual to see a 55% increase in the second district and a 15% increase in the first district, which is far from the normal 5% growth rate." Comelec Chairman George Garcia confirmed to the senators that colleagues will consider the results of the voter registration bureau and the special working group addressing this issue.