Comelec Bans Barangay Certifications After Abuse Cases Ahead of 2026 Polls

Posted on Feb. 11, 2026 at 9:09 am

Tacloban City — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has implemented a complete ban on the use of barangay certifications as proof of identity or residency for voter registration in order to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming November 2, 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

The decision to enforce this ban comes after investigations revealed widespread abuse in the issuance of barangay certificates to individuals who were not genuine residents of the areas where they were attempting to register, as stated by Comelec Regional Director Nick Mendros.

In a notable case, some barangay officials in Santa Margarita, Samar faced charges for providing residency certifications to non-residents to facilitate their voter registration. These officials are currently out on bail.

Mendros said similar findings were documented in Makati, San Juan, and Cagayan de Oro, prompting the ban on barangay certifications nationwide.

“These certifications were used to manipulate the voters’ list,” Mendros said. “This is exactly what the commission wants to stop.”

Under the new policy, the Comelec will no longer accept barangay certifications as valid proof of identity or residency. All voter registration applications will now be reviewed by the Election Registration Board (ERB), which consists of the election officer, a local civil registrar, and a school supervisor.

Mendros clarified that an applicant will only be considered a registered voter once the ERB officially approves their record.

Residency verification will now rely on data from partner agencies, such as the Department of Education, rather than endorsements from barangay officials.

Additionally, the Comelec has ramped up the use of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to identify and eliminate instances of double or multiple registrations nationwide.

Mendros cautioned that providing false information during registration constitutes material misrepresentation, a serious election offense under Republic Act 8189.

He emphasized that individuals who falsely claim to have been residents since birth when they were not will be held accountable for material misrepresentation.

A conviction for this offense carries a penalty of one to six years of imprisonment without probation and perpetual disqualification from holding any public office.

Mendros noted that while a warrant of arrest does not automatically disqualify a candidate, a final judgment of conviction does.

With the May 18 registration deadline approaching, Comelec reported that 74,254 applications have been processed in the region, including 28,054 new SK voters aged 15 to 17 and 10,816 adult registrants aged 18 and above.

Nationwide, the most recent data from Comelec indicates that Eastern Visayas has approximately 3.26 million registered voters out of the country’s total of over 68.6 million registered voters as of late 2024.

Comelec highlighted initiatives like “Register Anywhere” that have expanded voter registration access while reducing opportunities for organized voter hauling or `hakot’.

The commission emphasized that the elimination of barangay certifications is part of broader reforms aimed at ensuring an accurate and credible voters’ list for the 2026 barangay and SK elections.

(Photos by: Vanguard)

Residents of Santa Margarita Samar patiently waiting outside the Comelec office for the voter registration process in 2024. (Photo by: The Vanguard)