Pacquiao to voters: Trust Comelec

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao has expressed confidence in the way the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will hold the May 9 national and local elections, even if there were some isolated concerns on the first day of overseas absentee voting.

“Let’s just trust the Comelec, including those that will supervise the conduct of the polls. Let’s also give credit to teachers who are in charge of the elections so that the elections will be peaceful, honest and orderly,” Pacquiao said recently.

“They know their mandate and they definitely know how to do their job, and do it well. We all know that they have always been committed to their job, like ensuring fair and free elections. So, please let us just let them do their mandate. Let’s trust them,” he added.

Pacquiao was in Dipolog City previously for the Zamboanga del Norte leg of his campaign sorties, brimming with optimism that he will get the support of the people in the province, being the only Mindanaoan presidential candidate.

The overseas absentee voting (OAV) kicked off last Sunday, but it was marred by complaints due to various mix-ups and mishaps.

Voting was stalled in Hong Kong and North America due to the delay in the delivery of the ballots and other election paraphernalia and other “logistical difficulties.”

The OAV did not start as scheduled on April 10 in Philippine embassies in Wellington, New Zealand; Islamabad, Pakistan and Dili, Timor-Leste as well as in the Philippine consulates general in Milan, Italy and New York.

At least 1,697,215 registered overseas absentee voters are set to vote for national candidates from April 10 until election day on May 9. Overseas voters may only vote for president, vice president, 12 senators and a party-list group.

Pacquiao, standard-bearer of Promdi political party, maintained that he is confident that the Comelec will uphold its duty to maintain clean, honest and peaceful elections.

The senator also expressed confidence that he will get a huge vote from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) because he had authored various measures that seek to protect OFWs, such as Republic Act 11227 or the Handbook for OFWs Act of 2018 and his background as a national pride being one of the world’s greatest boxers.

“Our OFWs have at least – once upon a time – become my fans whenever I have a fight, so they know right now that I’m running. I’m sure they saw my programs that we have been disseminating on social media,” he said.

Legarda urges OFWs to vote

Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda has called on OFWs to join the month-long OAV and exercise their right to choose the next president of the Philippines.

“Overseas Filipinos should take advantage of the opportunity to elect their next leaders – and to choose wisely. I trust that our embassies and consulates worldwide will provide adequate assistance to almost 1.7 million registered Filipino overseas voters,” Legarda said.

The Antique representative said the Department of Foreign Affairs should see to it that registered overseas Filipino voters are adequately assisted as they cast their votes in Philippine embassies and consulates worldwide.

“Let us help our kababayan overseas as they exercise their right to take part in electing the leaders who they think will give them and their family the service and protection that they need,” she added.

Legarda, who co-authored the Overseas Absentee Voting Law of 2003, made the statement as she assured OFWs that their welfare would remain on top of her legislative agenda once she is re-elected to the Senate.

“Given the challenges that hardworking Filipinos encounter in foreign countries, where their resources and avenues for protection are limited, we should promote much-needed reforms to effectively respond to the growing number of OFWs,” she said.

Not concerned

Meanwhile, Pacquiao said he is not concerned with the defection of a volunteer group affiliated with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to support Vice President Leni Robredo, adding that it was possible that some of the defectors could turn their support to him.

“Maybe not all (defectors) will jump ship to the other rivals. Maybe they’ll be with us because Isko (like me) came from a background of poverty,” Pacquiao said yesterday.

He added that the shift of the group Ikaw Muna Pilipinas to IM Leni is an issue that can be only addressed by Moreno and the group’s leader Tim Orbos.

“I think Isko should be the one to be asked about that because those are his supporters. Maybe, there was a problem in their camp,” Pacquiao said.

He pointed out, however, that the Orbos group’s defection would not necessarily benefit Robredo or even Marcos because it is more likely that the group’s supporters will shift their support to the boxer-senator.

Pacquiao also dismissed claims that Marcos would get Moreno’s supporters following Orbos’ defection.