Absentee voting bill signed today

President Arroyo will sign into law today the Absentee Voting Bill, or Republic Act 9189, that allows Filipino migrants and workers abroad to vote in the May 2004 general elections.

Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) secretary Gabriel Claudio told The STAR the ceremonial signing of the bill, scheduled at 1:30 p.m. at Malacañang, would be attended not only by the principal authors and sponsors, but also the leaders and representatives of various groups of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Malacañang has invited Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Jose de Venecia, and opposition Senators Edgardo Angara and Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who were the principal authors of the measure along with Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda and Rep. Apolinario Lozada, chairman of the House foreign relations committee.

Mrs. Arroyo also authored the bill when she was still a senator during the 9th and 10th Congresses, but which failed to pass the measure seeking to allow an estimated six million OFWs to vote from their respective host countries at Philippine embassies and consulates abroad.

Newly sworn in presidential adviser on overseas Filipino communities Heherson Alvarez said the OFWs around the world have expected the passage of the absentee voting bill.

Alvarez said Filipinos, by their culture, are politically active people who want to have their vote counted even if they are working abroad.