Foreign election observers arriving in droves

The number of foreign diplomats who plan to observe the conduct of the May general elections has topped the number of foreign observers who monitored the last presidential polls in 1998.

Records from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Education and Information Division indicate that as of yesterday, 124 diplomats — 79 of them Americans — have asked for accreditation. At least 58 foreign journalists have also asked to be accredited.

The diplomats include 12 Japanese, 12 Australians, nine Indonesians, eight Britons, two from New Zealand, one Portuguese and one Swedish.

The foreign observers, endorsed by their respective ambassadors in Manila, indicated in their application the places they wanted to visit.

The Americans plan to spread out from Ilocos to Davao, including rebel-infested areas such as Misamis, Samar and Lanao del Sur. Others indicated they plan to observe the conduct of the elections in Metro Manila, Antipolo City, Zamboanga, Bukidnon, Pangasinan, Bataan and Bohol.

The number of foreign observers who came to the country to monitor the 1998 elections was not immediately available, but Comelec personnel who processed the accreditations six years ago said they have more applications now. The Americans also made up a majority of the foreign observers in the 1998 elections.

The upcoming election is seen as critical since President Arroyo assumed office after then President Joseph Estrada was ousted.

The May polls are also expected to be a close race between Mrs. Arroyo and her chief rival, actor Fernando Poe Jr.

The number of foreign journalists seeking accreditation is expected to swell to 500 before the April 30 deadline.

Foreign observers, however, are barred from aiding any candidate directly or indirectly, take part in the polls in any way, contribute financially to any candidate or party, enter polling places, or mingle with the voting public under Comelec Resolution 6629.