COMELEC: Voter certificates are free despite '2 Valid IDs' bribery scene

The Commission on Elections clarified that voter certificates are free of charge, following a portrayal in the film “2 Valid IDs” that suggested otherwise.

In the film, protagonist Sylvia (Marietta “Pokwang” Subong) attempts to secure two valid IDs in order to claim remittance meant to pay for her husband’s medical treatment. She resorts to bribing a local COMELEC officer with ₱1,000 to fast-track her voter certificate, one of the required valid IDs.

The COMELEC clarified that voter registration and certification have been completely free of charge since 2022. Nonetheless, the agency authorized the use of its official seal in the film.

“This approval was granted in recognition of the real-world documentation hurdles depicted in the film, challenges that the Commission itself has actively confronted and addressed,” the agency said in a statement on November 4.

The election authority acknowledged the problem of illegal fixers as portrayed in the film, reminding the public to report wrongdoers to the appropriate offices.

“Any reports involving fixer activities or counterfeit documents will be dealt with swiftly and strictly in accordance with the law,” COMELEC assured the public.

Illegal fixers, or individuals who promise faster services in exchange for money or favors, can be reported to the COMELEC Office of the Chairman at ocgemg@comelec.gov.ph, the National Citizen’s Complaint Center at 8888, and the Anti-Red Tape Authority.