The Commission on Election (Comelec) chairman George Garcia said he would recommend the indefinite suspension of voter registration in Israel amidst the ongoing deadly war between Israeli forces and Palestinian militant group Hamas.
In an ambush interview with the reporters, he said the suspension would be recommended to the Comelec en banc.
"Simula pa noong linggo, nagsarado ang ating Philippine Embassy doon, subalit base sa report ng ating embahada ay nagbukas ulit sila. Kaya lang, tayo ay mag re-recommend sa Commission en banc na kung pupwede ay i-suspend muna indefinetely yung registration ng botante natin diyan sa Israel," Garcia said.
According to the Comelec chairman, the voter registration will be suspended until the situation in the war-torn country will get better.
When asked if the poll body will give extension once the voter registration resume, he mentioned that this is possible.
"Tutal naman yung registration ng Overseas Filipino Worker ay dalawang taon simula nung nakaraan taon, December 12 at matatapos din sa 2024. At kung sakali kakailanganin mag-extend dahil dito sa suspension, gagawin po natin," he said.
On Saturday, Oct. 7, the Israeli government declared a "state of war" after Hamas intruded and unprecedented attack the country via air, land, and sea.
As of Tuesday, the AP News reported that the war's death toll rose to nearly 1,600.
"The Israeli military said more than 900 people already have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, according to authorities there," the international news outlet said.
The latest update from the Philippine Embassy in Israel showed that seven out of the 29 Filipinos reported missing remain unaccounted for.
