Poll execs off to US, Europe

Three officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) left the country yesterday for an almost month-long tour of the United States and Europe to discuss a proposed absentee voting measure with Filipinos abroad.

The three officials, Comelec Chairman Alfredo Benipayo, Commissioner Florentino Tuason Jr. and Comelec executive assistant James Jimenez, left for the US, Britain and other countries in Europe. They will be returning on April 12.

Comelec executive director Mamasapunod Aguam said the three will hold consultation meetings with various groups of overseas Filipino workers.

"They have been invited by the committee of Sen. Edgardo Angara which is working on the Absentee Voting Bill," Aguam explained. He noted that lawmakers are dead set in completing the measure in time for the 2004 elections.

Leaders of different political parties have earlier expressed support for the Absentee Voting Bill.

In the House of Representatives, Speaker Jose de Venecia said the proposed law would give more than five million Filipinos abroad a "voice" in national elections.

De Venecia is hopeful that the bill would be finalized after consultations by the Senate and House with Filipinos in the Middle East, in Italy and the United States as well as with the 350,000 Filipinos working in Japan and Hong Kong. – Sandy Araneta