The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) issued an advisory today calling on the public to be wary of fixers who manufacture and sell fake voters' identification (ID) cards. It likewise called on public offices to be on the look out for the spurious IDs proliferating in the country.

COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez said their field office in Pasig City has confiscated two (2) fake voters' IDs after the holder of the cards verified with the COMELEC their registration record. The two unsuspecting Pasig voters later told Pasig City District II Election Officer Atty. Frances Caroline Aguindadao that they paid P200 for the spurious IDs from fixers posing as COMELEC employees. The COMELEC has ordered the matter investigated, Jimenez said.

"We are calling on the public not to transact with fixers when they apply for registration in 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 Jimenez.

"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," he added.

The poll body spokesman thus urged the public to report immediately to the COMELEC should they be approached by fixers.

Jimenez said the fake IDs they have confiscated show the following distinguishing marks:

• The aspect ratio of the COMELEC logo on the front portion is not balanced. The logo appears to be oval in shape.
• The water mark on the front portion is barely visible.
• The signature of the former COMELEC Chairman (Hon. Benjamin Abalos) is smaller than the signature on the authentic IDs.
• In one of the IDs, the thumb mark is impressed using a stamp pad ink.
• 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.