Absentee voting in Riyadh likely to be delayed

MANILA, Philippines - The conduct of overseas absentee voting (OAV) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will likely be delayed for a few days as the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines are still being held by Saudi Customs authorities in Riyadh, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes reported yesterday.

Brillantes noted the release of the PCOS machines has been delayed while the month-long OAV is already scheduled to start on April 13.

Brillantes said he is still waiting for the report on the reasons why the Saudi Customs had withheld the machines.

Comelec Commissioner Elias Yusoph is now in Riyadh to resolve the matter.

“We are now having representation there through Commissioner Yusoph. We are making representations also with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) so they can help us out,” he added.

Before the start of the absentee voting on April 13, the Comelec would train the personnel of Philippine embassies on the use of the PCOS machines.

Aside from this, the machines are also subjected to field testing and sealing procedures before their actual use for election.

Riyadh, where there are 53,396 registered Filipino voters, is one of the seven Philippine diplomatic posts that cover big contingents of Filipinos wherein the Comelec has automated the elections.

The others are Hong Kong (83,118 voters), Singapore (50,063), Kuwait (30,238), Jeddah (30,2380), Dubai (55,842), and Abu Dhabi (21,645).

Outside of these areas, the voters cast their vote through personal or postal voting.

During the country’s first electronic polls in 2010, automated voting covered only Hong Kong and Singapore.

There are 988,384 registered voters abroad for the coming polls.

Brillantes reported that preparations for OAV are proceeding well.

The poll chief just arrived from Singapore where he personally oversaw the preparations.

He said that special arrangement has been made by election field officials in Singapore to adjust the voting hours to 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. during weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends to adjust to the available time of Filipinos there.

Concern over turnout

Leaders of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) have expressed concern over the turnout of the OAV starting April 13.

UNA secretary general and campaign manager Rep. Toby Tiangco of Navotas said yesterday in a statement sent to reporters that UNA is worried about the turnout of voters if the poll body’s information campaign for the OAV for the May 13 elections failed to cover areas that have high concentration of Filipinos abroad.

He said about 10 consulates and embassies closed last year, thereby limiting the access of Filipinos abroad to vote.

“In order to meet the required target of voters, special consideration should be given to seafarers, offshore workers, oilfield workers and those in the construction sector abroad,” Tiangco said.

Tiangco said that by this time the more than 230,000 OFWs who were delisted and dropped from the OAV list in 2012 but were reinstated last month should have been informed.

He said that there is still time to intensify the OAV information drive to reach the target set by the Comelec.

Tiangco said that wholesale disenfranchisement is possible if old issues and problems that beset the OAV in the last two elections would still occur.

Meanwhile, under local absentee voting (LAV), members of media may vote on April 28-30 ahead of election day on May 13.

Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile, an UNA senatorial bet, urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to exercise their right to vote in next month’s elections.

“Let your voices be heard, exercise your right and fulfill your obligation to participate in the democratic process,” he said.

He said there are about a million overseas Filipinos, mostly contract workers, eligible to vote.

With their number, they can make a difference in the election of candidates who will make up the next Senate, he said.

UNA senatorial candidate Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay said she would make sure that all government agencies will enforce the policy on protection and assistance to our migrant workers by making sure that they periodically report to the Senate the status of our OFWs and what has been done by government to address their concerns.”

Former senator Ernesto Maceda said that the government must have a contingency plan for every country where there are OFWs.

“The Aquino administration should now develop a master plan to create more jobs for overseas workers to come back to,” Maceda said. –With Jose Rodel Clapano, Jess Diaz