Pinoys in HK, Japan back absent vote bill

Some 350,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Japan and Hong Kong want Congress to immediately pass into law the Absentee Voting Bill.

In a manifesto sent to Sen. Edgardo Angara, representatives of about 500 OFW groups in these two countries said the 9th, 10th and 11th Congresses had failed to pass a law allowing them to vote in national elections, despite the constitutional mandate vesting the right of suffrage to all qualified Filipino citizens.

"The overseas Filipinos had sent $43.36 billion from 1990 to 2001, enabling the country to survive several economic crises," the manifesto said.

"The hard work and sacrifice has to be recognized. Because of callous partnerships, overseas Filipinos have been denied the right to vote and participate in the important electoral exercise. Now, we strongly appeal to the House and the Senate to act on the bill and pass it," it said.

The Japan and Hong Kong associations said the manifesto represents the sentiments of more than seven million OFWs worldwide.

Last week, Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, held public consultations on the Absentee Voting Bill in Hong Kong and Tokyo, the first of several consultations by Congress in countries with massive number of OFWs.

The OFWs told Angara there is no basis to fear that OFW votes would be used for massive electoral fraud once the Absentee Voting Bill becomes law.

The manifesto said OFWs share Angara’s view that any absentee voting law must be complemented by the speedy passage of a poll modernization act.

"With modern electoral system in place, fears of cheating and fraud would be rendered irrelevant," read an excerpt from the manifesto.

During the consultations, Angara said OFWs in Hong Kong and Japan batted for "onsite counting" and canvass of votes, and brought up the issues of electoral safeguards and anti-fraud measures.

Also discussed was how thousands of undocumented OFWs in Japan and Hong Kong could vote. — Aurea Calica