Kabataan Partylist welcomed the Supreme Court’s favorable decision on its petition to extend the registration of voters for the May 10, 2010 elections to the second week of January.

“This is a best Christmas gift for the youth, tamang-tama para sa huling Pasko bago mag-eleksyon. We express our greatest appreciation to the Supreme Court for upholding the right to register and right of suffrage,” said Kabataan Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino

Palatino said that he expects the Commission on Elections to comply with the High Court order at the soonest possible time as it is immediately executory.

“The Comelec is now tasked to immediately and without delay inform the public of the proper guidelines, mechanics and date of immediate resumption of continuing registration. The sooner they are able to do this, the better for more prospective new registrants,” he said.

Palatino said, “Whatever impediments the Comelec may deem that would hinder the immediate implementation of this ruling, they will have to take up with the High Court. What is clear now is that they are compelled to comply by the SC ruling at the soonest possible time. Siguradong pipila na bukas na bukas pa lang ang mga kabataan.”

The youth solon also said that their group is more than willing to provide assistance to the Comelec to be able to reach out to the broadest number of prospective new voters starting today until January 9.

“We also encourage our youth and first-time voters who have not yet registered to avail of this opportunity. Let us not waste any more time, magparehistro na ang dapat magparehistro,” said Palatino. For its part, Kabataan will continue its own voter registration campaign dubbed ‘Isang Milyon, Isang Panata,’ a youth effort to register as many as 1 million new voters for the 2010 polls. ###

See full text of Supreme Court ruling here.