MANILA — Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia said the issuance of barangay certification of residency is behind the reported increase of new voters in certain areas.

Garcia said this in reaction to a statement of Cagayan de Oro First District Representative Lord Suan that there is an “irregular surge” in the number of new voters in places such as Batangas, Makati, and Nueva Ecija.

“The culprit is still the barangay certification of residency,” Garcia said.

Garcia said in October that the poll body will investigate through a task force the reported unusual increase in the number of transfer of votes or registrants applying to become voters in places like Makati, Cagayan de Oro and Nueva Ecija.

Garcia said two resolutions were signed by the en banc last month for the probe to be conducted in Cagayan de Oro and Nueva Ecija.