Alejano Proposes High School Graduate Requirement for Election Voters

Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano has a proposal for this coming 2019 midterm election, where Filipinos will vote for twelve senators. According to the Liberal Party (LP) ally congressman, it would be better if the voters will be at least high school graduate, claiming that they can easily identify those who can be public servants.

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“Ang problema kasi, marami tayong botante na hindi halos marunong magbasa at sumulat. So ang nangyayari, madali silang nabobola ng mga kandidato, at madalas pa nga, nabibili ang boto nila. Ngayon, kung high school graduate ang lahat ng botante, mahirap lokohin.” Rep. Alejano, who is set to run for senator in 2019 told reporters, Friday.

(The problem is, there are a lot of voters who are having difficulties in reading and writing. What happens is that election candidates can easily fool them, and most of the time, they are involved in vote-buying. Now, if all voters are at least high school graduate, they cannot easily be fooled.)

Apparently, Alejano voiced out his recommendation a few days after majority of the Charter Change sub-committee panel voted that aspiring lawmakers should have finished a college course or equivalent. The proposed qualification is part of the proposal in the new Constitution under the proposed federal system.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the current requirements to run for senator are: at least 35 years old, able to read and write, a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, and a resident of the country for at least 2 years before the elections. On the other hand, registered voters should be at least 18 years old, and have resided in the Philippines for at least 1 year.



According to Alejano, adding the college graduate requirement for aspiring lawmakers is good. However, he said that elections can be compared to a singing contest. “Sa singing contest, ang sasali lang dapat ay yung magaling talaga kumanta, at ang mga judges naman dapat malalim din ang alam sa musika. Yun ang may logic.” He said.

Contributed by Renato Pasayao