"THE SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM AND THE 1st OAV IN RIYADH"
We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results. --Hermann Melville
REPORT: THE FIRST OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING IN RIYADH
By: Manuel “Bong” Amora
OAV Volunteer Asst. Coordinator
Information/Secretariat
And
The First Overseas Absentee Voting Exercise in Retrospect
by Global Filipinos
Sept. 25, 2004
=========================================================
Overseas Absentee Voting
Community Volunteers Report
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Introduction:
The Filipino Community organization in Riyadh on a meeting held at Al Mutlaq Hotel, on April 2, 2004 arrived into a consensus to support the Commission on Election for the conduct of a peaceful and orderly Absentee Voting at Philippine Embassy.
Thus, the existence of the Community Volunteers composed of individuals affiliated with different organization in Riyadh, to act voluntarily and oversee the orderly flow of the Absentee Voting process.
Volunteers – A group of people tightened the bonds of helping each other as a manpower support in a particular endeavor towards attaining a common goal without expecting any form of return.
==========================================================
The Report:
April 15, 2004 (Thursday)
Excited to cast their votes in the first historic absentee voting exercise, a few of our fellow Absentee Voters arrived at the Philippine Embassy to take part of the implementation of the First Overseas Absentee Voting process.
The conduct of the voting was generally peaceful and overall assessments on the first Thursday of the voting period run smoothly where half of our community volunteers were ready on their posts to assist our fellow voters.
April 16, 2004 (Friday @ 7:30 AM)
A number of buses and private cars are visibly seen entering the Diplomatic Quarter in spite of the strict security measures from the host government going to the Diplomatic Quarter where the Philippine Embassy is located, these doesn’t prevents our fellow registered OFW Absentee Voters to come and cast their vote in the first historic implementation of Overseas Absentee Voting.
At around 7:30 in the morning, the two gates, Gate No. 1 and Gate No. 2 of our Philippine Embassy are open.
Our volunteer marshals that mostly comes from Black Python and some from Phil. Guardians Brotherhood are manning the entrances of the designated polling precincts to guide our fellow absentee voters where they are assigned to cast their vote. The smooth flow of the lines going to their respective precincts are evident that the process are in orderly manner.
Undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs Jose Brillantes who arrived from Manila and visited Philippine Embassy on the 16th of April to personally see the actual conduct of the Absentee Voting was very glad indeed that the whole process was done in a manner as it should be. He was surprised that when he arrived at the chancery our fellow Absentee Voters are in long line waiting for their turn to cast their votes, however, when he came down after a brief meeting with the Philippine Embassy officials and started to inspect each precincts, the scene was very peaceful and few of the voters who already casts their votes were gone and new voters were coming in. All of these was the proper instruction from our volunteer marshals to our fellow OFW’s that those who finished casting their votes are only allowed to stay between 5 to 10 minutes at the Philippine Embassy grounds to prevent the overcrowding of people in the area. The instruction attributed to the peaceful voting process.
Gate No. 1 is the entrance going to the Lobby where Precincts No. 1 and 2 are located for Absentee Voters whose surnames start from “A” to “C” (Camila, Emmanuel D.), while Gate No. 2 going to the Basement where surnames from “C” ( Camila. Liza A.) up to letter “Z”.
Aside from the Volunteers Medical Team under the supervision of Ms. Aimee Silo (NARS) which is a sub-committee of Public Assistance headed by Mr. Joey Badong (OFW Congress), a Philippine Embassy designated Medical Team can also be found at the parking area inside the embassy near the cooperative canteen. Both mentioned medical teams are on standby to be of service anytime they are needed.
At exactly 12:00 noon, only a handful of voters are in the different precincts. This time our beloved teachers who are members of the SBEI’s take the time to eat their lunch while others maintain their respective duties.
In the other part of the Philippine Embassy at the basketball court, our energetic community volunteers, the marshals, the member of the Volunteers Public Assistance Committee are taking their lunch together, as a sign of a good camaraderie among them. The tiresome job was suddenly vanished when our Vice Consul Adrian Cruz and Overall Volunteer Coordinator Mr. Alex Bello join the ranks.
In the whole afternoon, the flow of the voting process were conducted very smoothly, the fact that everyone commented that the process from queuing to casting of votes were done in 10 to 20 minutes. Thus, in general observation from the part of our fellow OFW Absentee Voters, the conduct of the election on April 16, 2004 (Friday) was excellent and well implemented.
Minor problems occurred such as finding of their respective precinct assignment were rectified. Distribution of ID’s run smoothly after a suggestion to separate the lines of the males and females. A few of them were already finished casting their votes. Late comers after 4:00 PM were advised that the Absentee Voting will start at 8:00 AM and strictly up to 4:00 PM. only.
============================================================
The best volunteers might be the ones who do the job quietly and efficiently, taking the lead without seeking public recognition, knowing full well that hard work and dedication will be recognized in due time, but until then, happy with the knowledge that a task was completed. – bong amora
=============================================================
Community Volunteers Status Report:
April 22, 2004 (Thursday)
A number of OFW’s having the privilege of working half day during Thursdays gave time to cast their votes at the Philippine Embassy on April 22, 2004. Though there are only a handful of voters came to vote, the recent terrorist attacked the day before in the city proper of Riyadh does not prevent our fellow absentee voters to come. A clear manifestation of exercising the right of suffrage for the very first time as an absentee voter.
A count of 15 marshal volunteers also arrived last Thursday to assist the orderly conduct of the election.
The OFW Congress, one of the prime movers of OAV Community Volunteers who were there too, made the day complete when the visiting Undersecretary Jose Brillantes of the Department of Foreign Affairs inducted the new officers of the organization for year 2004 and 2005. Mr. Alex Veloso Bello the organizer of OAV Volunteers and the Overall OAV Volunteer Coordinator in Riyadh was the newly elected President of the OFW Congress.
Considering the importance of a visiting DFA official from Manila, at 3:00 PM the members of the NAMFREL volunteers headed by Mr. Rodel Yap & Mr. Vic Barrazona made a courtesy meeting with Undersecretary Brillantes and discussed the NAMFREL duties in the forthcoming counting and the canvassing of votes.
The whole day of the conduct of voting was generally peaceful and overall assessments on the 2nd Thursday of absentee voting period in Riyadh run very smoothly.
April 23, 2004 (Friday @ 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM)
At 7:30 AM (Friday) the group of volunteers are all set on their usual jobs, to assist the voters in finding their respective precincts alphabetically. The voters keep coming in and out at the Philippine Embassy and it was calculated that the biggest number of absentee voters was on April 23, 2004.
At the Main Entrance Gate of the Diplomatic Quarter, a normal scene of strict implementation of security measures from the host government for all the incoming vehicles. The barricade prevents big buses to enter the Diplomatic Quarter, the reasons that some of our fellow Absentee Voters was stopped at the entrance area. But immediate action from our Embassy officials headed by Vice Consul Addy Cruz, Mr. Tom Lawson and Mr. Kiango Sandayan by providing mini bus and other vehicles to transport them going to the Embassy.
The ID Distribution Desk as usual are crowded from morning till in the afternoon, most of our fellow absentee voters after casting votes proceeds to the IDDD while others wants to have their ID’s first before casting their votes. The long queue starts from the basketball court going to the IDD Desk.
At Gate No. 2 going to the Basement, our energetic community leaders who volunteers under the Public Assistance Committee were busy distributing precinct assignment guide to our fellow absentee voters changing locations to avoid the heat of the sun. The guide indicates the precincts number where the voters assigned to cast their votes according to their surnames or last name.
Also, at the basement where precincts Nos. 3 to 10 are located, long lines of voters are waiting for their turn to enter the polling booth. These prompted the volunteer marshals to halt for a while the other group of voters in the shaded area near the basketball court to prevent the overcrowding in the basement area.
Medical Teams from various hospitals and clinics in the Kingdom were there too to gave free medical consultations to our fellow OFW’s. The team of nurses and doctors are divided into 2 groups, one in front of the Philippine Embassy near the chancery and the other group at the parking area near the cooperative canteen.
At noon time our volunteers from various community organizations take their lunch together as a gesture of a good team spirit at the basketball court. Volunteer Ms. Lina Perez of OFW Congress and her Pinoy Friendly Group provided the lunch.
Figures not permitted:
As far as the Election Law is concerned the request on the exact figures of the Absentee Voters who already casts their votes is not permitted. However, Philippine Embassy officials said that last Friday, April 23, 2004 was so far the highest number of voters compared from the past few days since the start of the voting period.
Campaign strictly not allowed:
In the afternoon between 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Saudi Authorities apprehended 3 absentee voters outside the embassy premises distributing campaign flyers, which is against the Comelec Rules and the host country. Public Assistance Committee Head Mr. Joey Badong interceded on behalf of the 3 OFW’s and was able to negotiate with the Saudi Authorities for their released. Though the mentioned 3 OFW’s maintained that they don’t know that election campaign flyers are not allowed in the Diplomatic Quarters outside Philippine Embassy.
Volunteers Error:
Some of our volunteer marshals manning the precincts areas were reprimanded by members of the SBEI’s (Special Ballot Election Inspectors) particularly Precincts No. 6 for minor errors such as mistake in assisting absentee voters in their correct assigned precincts numbers.
Mr. Alex Bello brought this matter to Vice Consul Adrian Cruz that such percentage errors must be reported accordingly to the head of the volunteers or to the Vice Consul himself in order to rectify such mistake in a cordial manner. Mr. Alex Bello reminded Vice Consul Cruz that our volunteers are there just to lend a hand in the conduct of the election without any return or compensation and their presence is highly commendable rather than to be reprimanded in an unpleasant way.
Unregistered OFW’s feel sorry:
Unregistered OFW’s who happen to visit the Philippine Embassy by accompanying their friends to vote commented that they feel sorry for themselves for not able to register as absentee voters and only just to realized how importance is our right of suffrage.
The general scenario of the conduct of voting on Friday, April 23, 2004 was generally peaceful and orderly.
Prepared By:
Manuel “Bong” Amora
OAV Volunteer
Asst. Volunteer Coordinator
Information/Secretariat
Verified Correct By:
Mr. Alex Veloso Bello
OAV Overall Volunteer Coordinator
==========================================================
THE FIRST OAV FILCOM VOLUNTEERS:
1 Mr. Alex Bello
2 Dr. Mohammad Astillero
3 Mr. Mike Bolos
4 Mr. Manuel Amora
5 Mr. Angel Pantoja
6 Mr. Ismail Sulit
7 Mr. Senan Angara
8 Mr. Macario Escober
9 Mr. Prudee Del Mundo
10 Mr. Leonilo Villanueva
11 Mr. Manuel Lector
12 Mr. Rolando Calitis
13 Mr. Noli Benavent
14 Mr. Joey Badong
15 Mr. William Jao
16 Mr. Ismail Sulit
17 Ms. Magdalena Perez
18 Mr. Frank Naval
19 Mr. Rene Layug
20 Mr. Fernando Petite
21 Mr. Roberto Fernandez
22 Mr. Jaafar Angkaya
23 Ms. Valeriana Coronado
24 Mr. Florencio Coronado
31 Mr. Dan De Jesus
32 Mr. Tony Apolto
33 Ms. Ameurfina Silo
34 Dr. Mash Ayunan
35 Dra. Ma. Theresa B. Alejo
36 Ms. Purificasion D. Jusay
37 Ms. Pamela Gangoso
38 Ms. Anabelle U. Condeza
39 Mr. Andrybonn M. Laino
40 Mr. Boggs Bolor
41 Mr. Mona “Dante” Pangcoga
42 Mr. Allan Makabangkit
43 Mr. Bernard Abad
44 Mr. Faisal Mercurio
45 Mr. Bhoy Macion
46 Mr. Rene Arevalo
47 Mr. Daniel Dalapo
48 Mr. Artiro Lontoc
49 Mr. Wison Abugni
50 Mr. Rey Herrera
51 Mr. Elmer Nagac
52 Mr. Florencio Esguerra
53 Mr. James Brigoli
54 Ms. Farah Jean Avanzado
55 Mr. Genelito Avanzado
56 Mr. Devi Abilay
57 Mr. Edmund Vitor
58 Mr. Henry Dacanay
59 Mr. Diosdado De Guzman
60 Mr. Jose Concepcion
61 Mr. Renato Reforsado
62 Ms. Bonifacio dela Rosa
63 Mr. Albert Calingasan
64 Mr. Randy Berano
65 Mr. Florencio Maga
66 Mr. Nursiry Omar
67 Mr. Raymundo Jojo
68 Mr. Eduardo Clavero
69 Mr. Benjamin Ensoy, Jr.
70 Mr. Leonides Paradero
71 Mr. Samuel Parras
72 Mr. Joel Borre
73 Mr. Julio Yebra
74 Mr. Domingo Ludovice, Jr.
75 Mr. Eddie Dacera
76 Mr. Mr. Resty Seletaria
77 Mr. Herminio Balbin
78 Mr. Lino Ambe
79 Mr. John Pantoc
80 Mr. Roberto Villaruz
81 Mr. Lyndon Navarro
82 Mr. Ibrahim Banacia
83 Mr. Ernesto Denicolas
84 Mr. Hermes Hervera
85 Mr. Romeo Coronado
86 Mr. Larry Lapore
87 Mr. Angelito Lorin
88 Mr. Angelito Leviste
89 Mr. Arthur Magno
90 Mr. Jimmy Andaluz
91 Mr. Jhun Aquinio
92 Mr. Ronnie Cabrales
93 Mr. Nursing Omar
94 Mr. Cresensio Pamplona
95 Mr. Ricardo Calong
96 Mr. Enrico Nadera
97 Mr. Lolito Alejo
98 Mr. Andresito Mascarina
99 Mr. Rafael Opol
100 Mr. Jun Sigaya
105 Mr. Jimmy Arellano
106 Mr. Liberito Cortez
107 Mr. Fernando Lombo
108 Ms. Fairsha Lim
109 Ms. Marilyn Hamsirani
110 Mr. Allan Salvador
111 Ms. Severa Saad
112 Ms. Lalaine Matrio
113 Mr. Ronilo Infante
114 Mr. Jaime Maalre
115 Mr. Bueanvides Michael
116 Mr. Jun Derzada
117 Mr. Lino Liporada
118 Mr. Julius Amoyo
119 Mr. Robert Makabanta
120 Dr. Sandra Limsi
121 Dr. Maria Victoria Carmen Cango
122 Dr. Zahara Lumbang
123 Dr. Maria Divina Velasco
124 Dr. Ervie Muescano
125 Dr. Ann Sharon Alvarez
126 Ms. Catherine Suficiencia
127 Dr. Malliza Fortaleza
128 Ms. Emily Evangelista
129 Ms. Maureen Alabado
130 Mr. Virgil de Jesus
131 Mr. Emmanuel Dumaguing
132 Mr. Ricardo Caicong
133 Mr. Cimafranca
134 Mr. Alexander Toledo
135 Mr. Manuel Umali
136 Mr. Isabelo Padwal
137 Mr. John Padtoc
138 Mr. Victor Villaro
138 Mr. Galvan Nestor
139 Mr. Ruben Eustaquio, Jr.
140 Mr. Lito Gato
141 Mr. Romeo Fernandez
142 Mr. Pablo Magallanes
143 Mr. Wilmer Estrellado
144 Mr. Elmer Villareal
145 Mr. Florencio Estepa
146 Mr. Julius Sadagnot
147 Ms. Christine Rafisura
148 Ms. Cora Medina
149 Mr. Nilo Odecta
150 Mr. Mariano Gapuz
151 Mr. Migule Pagurayan
152 Ms. Marivis C. Duque
153 Mr. Sandy Mansaniros
154 Mr. Villamayor Manaligod
155 Mr. Fermin Tocino
156 Mr. Romeo Navera
157 Mr. Mario Ampaya
158 Mr. Isabelo Padral
159 Mr. Jhun Maquinto
160 Mr. Aguilar Ariel
161 Mr. Benjamin Bucatcat
162 Mr. Doming Ravasa
163 Mr. Marben Delgado
164 Mrs. Elena Astillero
===========================================================
The First Overseas Absentee Voting Exercise in Retrospect
by Global Filipinos
Sept. 25, 2004
Start Early
The first overseas voting exercise imparted the important message that it is highly advisable to have an early preparation. With this in mind, Global Filipinos Coalition, in active collaboration with various overseas Filipinos-related non-government organizations, held a Workshop for the Review of the Overseas Absentee Voting and its Implementation on August 27, 2004 at the Senate of the Philippines.
Section 28 of the Overseas Absentee Voting law states that “Congress shall complete a mandatory review of this Act within two (2) years following the May, 2004 elections for the purpose of amending it to expand or restrict its coverage, scope and application, as well as improve its procedures and institute measures and safeguards, taking into account the experience of the previous elections, technological advances and structural political changes.”
Broad Participation
The workshop was a well-represented event. Representatives from seventeen (17) NGOs and companies attended, as well as representatives from the Office of the President; the Commission on Elections (COMELEC); the Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat (OAVS) under the Department of Foreign Affairs; the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO); and, the Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI).
There was a high-powered panel who made presentations, including Commissioner Florentino A. Tuason, Jr., Chairman of the Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting of the COMELEC; Usec. Rafael Seguis, Chairman of the OAVS; and, Ms. Catherine P. Maceda, Vice Chair of the OAVS. Sen. Edgardo J. Angara, major sponsor of the OAV bill in the Senate, addressed the audience, as did former Vice President Teofisto Guingona. Former Congressman Apolinario Lozada, Jr., major sponsor of the OAV bill in the House of Representatives, was also in attendance. Mr. Victor S. Barrios, Chairman of the Global Filipinos, emceed the event.
In his welcome remarks, Sen. Pimentel, the acknowledged champion of the overseas absentee voting cause, recognized the valuable support of Commissioner Tuason, Vice Chair Maceda, ECMI, Global Filipinos and other NGOs. He expressed the hope that the participants would benefit from an exchange of views that will allow legislators to “enact whatever remedial legislation is needed to make the Overseas Absentee Voting Act a vital tool that will enable our Overseas Filipinos to participate in and influence in a positive manner the outcome of the nation's election contests.”
Overseas Absentee Voting: In Retrospect
Vice Chair Maceda presented a retrospective of the Overseas Absentee experience that generated a cascade of statistics: a total of 364,187 overseas Filipinos registered, of whom 233,092 voted. A total of 393 applications was disapproved. The voting turnout was 65%, a significant figure considering the learning curve experienced and not far from the 72% voter turnout in the Philippines. There were 138 precincts in 81 foreign posts, 3 MECO posts and 3 satellite posts. An additional 300 field precincts were set up for counting, bringing the total number of precincts to 438. Only 642 seafarers managed to vote or a turn-out of 28% of the total registrants.
There was a 44% turn-out of postal voters in Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) where voting by mail was adopted. Of the total mailed ballots sent back to the embassies/consulates, 8% were invalidated because of the lack of signature on the outer envelopes.
As much as 80% of voters voted outside the embassies and consulates, leading to the conclusion that without field registration and field voting centers, the first overseas absentee voting experience would have yielded far lower performance data.
The “last-minute syndrome” attitude of the Filipinos came into play during the registration period. There were 2,112 daily average registrants during the first 10 days of registration, which figure drastically rose to around 16,000 a day during the last 10 days. The average turnout of voters was more evenly spread out, with voters avoiding the rush by voting early. The shortest counting time was 8 hours, while the longest took 100 hours spread over 4 days in one Hong Kong precinct. There were 27 posts that did not have lawyers to head the Special Boards of Canvassers (SBOCs), prompting COMELEC to send lawyers to each Post to chair the SBOC.
Giving human face to the voters, Vice Chair Maceda recounted the tenacity of one voter in Germany who had to leave at dawn just to arrive at his precinct 30 minutes before closing time. A nun had to travel from Norway to Sweden just to vote matched his fortitude.
In-House ERB
In his presentation, Commissioner Tuason called the first OAV implementation a “resounding success” despite the relatively low turnout. He reasoned that it has proven that Philippine elections “can be conducted honestly, peacefully and orderly and with the spirit of camaraderie and volunteerism.” He hopes that someday, “the skeptical attitude towards COMELEC will vanish,” one reason being the success of this first overseas voting exercise, which was held against great odds.
In regard of procedural aspect of the electoral process, Commissioner Tuason had two very important and emphatic messages to impart: The first is the absolute necessity to automate the next elections; and the second, equally as important, is that need for COMELEC to set up an in-house Election Registration Board (ERB) at the Manila head office. By doing so, it can now process all the applications for registration and voting instead of farming them out to the local ERBs where applications could experience delays or may be misplaced aside from savings in enormous costs. Vice Chair Maceda echoed this recommendation, pointing out the fact that to this day, there are still applications that have not reached COMELEC Manila. An in-house ERB, they said, would solve as much as 80% of the problems experienced in the overseas absentee voting. The whole workshop body unanimously approved this recommendation.
Continuing Registration
Vice Chair Maceda zeroed in on the need to implement the continuing registration for overseas voters. This process, she said, would prevent the time constraints that had dogged the preparations in the last elections. Commissioner Tuason gave his assurance that COMELEC would work toward the start of registration during the first quarter of next year on the condition that the in-house ERB would be in place and the application forms would be revised to make them user-friendlier.
Other important recommendations that the workshop body agreed upon were on the subjects of: expanding postal voting areas; considering registration and voting by mail and e-mail for the seafarers; allowing field voting only where field registration was also allowed and conditioned upon the number of registrants; setting voting hours that are convenient to voters, considering their working hours and days off; using a secure voter’s certificate for online voting; reviewing the accountable documents and taking out the ballot paper from the list of accountable documents; continuous voters’ education and information dissemination even on non-election years; allowing electronic transmission of electoral data; and, a liberal interpretation of the law and the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) by the COMELEC.
Botong Pinoy
The Mega Group of Computer Companies gave a short presentation on the issue of automation. They suggested linking the registration process with the DFA's passport database using the machine-readable passport system once this is in place. This feature will enable embassy and consular officers to immediately verify the identification of the registrant on site, saving time and resources to send the documents to Manila and wait for Comelec's verification.
A Success
The workshop marked a healthy maturity in the relationship of all partner government entities in the overseas absentee voting process and participants/representatives of overseas Filipino communities. The workshop participants could not have hoped for a better outcome than what the constructive workshop has produced in terms of workshop output and cemented relationships.
Senator Pimentel and Global Filipinos hope that this workshop will pave the way for a successful review of the Overseas Absentee Voting law by the new Joint Congressional Oversight Committee so that, in the words of Sen. Pimentel, we will move toward “our goal of getting the full participation by our brethren overseas in our national elections.”
Note:
For more information please visit http://www.globalfilipinos.com/news.php?id=633) Workshop output by Workshop Participants
We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results. --Hermann Melville
REPORT: THE FIRST OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING IN RIYADH
By: Manuel “Bong” Amora
OAV Volunteer Asst. Coordinator
Information/Secretariat
And
The First Overseas Absentee Voting Exercise in Retrospect
by Global Filipinos
Sept. 25, 2004
=========================================================
Overseas Absentee Voting
Community Volunteers Report
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Introduction:
The Filipino Community organization in Riyadh on a meeting held at Al Mutlaq Hotel, on April 2, 2004 arrived into a consensus to support the Commission on Election for the conduct of a peaceful and orderly Absentee Voting at Philippine Embassy.
Thus, the existence of the Community Volunteers composed of individuals affiliated with different organization in Riyadh, to act voluntarily and oversee the orderly flow of the Absentee Voting process.
Volunteers – A group of people tightened the bonds of helping each other as a manpower support in a particular endeavor towards attaining a common goal without expecting any form of return.
==========================================================
The Report:
April 15, 2004 (Thursday)
Excited to cast their votes in the first historic absentee voting exercise, a few of our fellow Absentee Voters arrived at the Philippine Embassy to take part of the implementation of the First Overseas Absentee Voting process.
The conduct of the voting was generally peaceful and overall assessments on the first Thursday of the voting period run smoothly where half of our community volunteers were ready on their posts to assist our fellow voters.
April 16, 2004 (Friday @ 7:30 AM)
A number of buses and private cars are visibly seen entering the Diplomatic Quarter in spite of the strict security measures from the host government going to the Diplomatic Quarter where the Philippine Embassy is located, these doesn’t prevents our fellow registered OFW Absentee Voters to come and cast their vote in the first historic implementation of Overseas Absentee Voting.
At around 7:30 in the morning, the two gates, Gate No. 1 and Gate No. 2 of our Philippine Embassy are open.
Our volunteer marshals that mostly comes from Black Python and some from Phil. Guardians Brotherhood are manning the entrances of the designated polling precincts to guide our fellow absentee voters where they are assigned to cast their vote. The smooth flow of the lines going to their respective precincts are evident that the process are in orderly manner.
Undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs Jose Brillantes who arrived from Manila and visited Philippine Embassy on the 16th of April to personally see the actual conduct of the Absentee Voting was very glad indeed that the whole process was done in a manner as it should be. He was surprised that when he arrived at the chancery our fellow Absentee Voters are in long line waiting for their turn to cast their votes, however, when he came down after a brief meeting with the Philippine Embassy officials and started to inspect each precincts, the scene was very peaceful and few of the voters who already casts their votes were gone and new voters were coming in. All of these was the proper instruction from our volunteer marshals to our fellow OFW’s that those who finished casting their votes are only allowed to stay between 5 to 10 minutes at the Philippine Embassy grounds to prevent the overcrowding of people in the area. The instruction attributed to the peaceful voting process.
Gate No. 1 is the entrance going to the Lobby where Precincts No. 1 and 2 are located for Absentee Voters whose surnames start from “A” to “C” (Camila, Emmanuel D.), while Gate No. 2 going to the Basement where surnames from “C” ( Camila. Liza A.) up to letter “Z”.
Aside from the Volunteers Medical Team under the supervision of Ms. Aimee Silo (NARS) which is a sub-committee of Public Assistance headed by Mr. Joey Badong (OFW Congress), a Philippine Embassy designated Medical Team can also be found at the parking area inside the embassy near the cooperative canteen. Both mentioned medical teams are on standby to be of service anytime they are needed.
At exactly 12:00 noon, only a handful of voters are in the different precincts. This time our beloved teachers who are members of the SBEI’s take the time to eat their lunch while others maintain their respective duties.
In the other part of the Philippine Embassy at the basketball court, our energetic community volunteers, the marshals, the member of the Volunteers Public Assistance Committee are taking their lunch together, as a sign of a good camaraderie among them. The tiresome job was suddenly vanished when our Vice Consul Adrian Cruz and Overall Volunteer Coordinator Mr. Alex Bello join the ranks.
In the whole afternoon, the flow of the voting process were conducted very smoothly, the fact that everyone commented that the process from queuing to casting of votes were done in 10 to 20 minutes. Thus, in general observation from the part of our fellow OFW Absentee Voters, the conduct of the election on April 16, 2004 (Friday) was excellent and well implemented.
Minor problems occurred such as finding of their respective precinct assignment were rectified. Distribution of ID’s run smoothly after a suggestion to separate the lines of the males and females. A few of them were already finished casting their votes. Late comers after 4:00 PM were advised that the Absentee Voting will start at 8:00 AM and strictly up to 4:00 PM. only.
============================================================
The best volunteers might be the ones who do the job quietly and efficiently, taking the lead without seeking public recognition, knowing full well that hard work and dedication will be recognized in due time, but until then, happy with the knowledge that a task was completed. – bong amora
=============================================================
Community Volunteers Status Report:
April 22, 2004 (Thursday)
A number of OFW’s having the privilege of working half day during Thursdays gave time to cast their votes at the Philippine Embassy on April 22, 2004. Though there are only a handful of voters came to vote, the recent terrorist attacked the day before in the city proper of Riyadh does not prevent our fellow absentee voters to come. A clear manifestation of exercising the right of suffrage for the very first time as an absentee voter.
A count of 15 marshal volunteers also arrived last Thursday to assist the orderly conduct of the election.
The OFW Congress, one of the prime movers of OAV Community Volunteers who were there too, made the day complete when the visiting Undersecretary Jose Brillantes of the Department of Foreign Affairs inducted the new officers of the organization for year 2004 and 2005. Mr. Alex Veloso Bello the organizer of OAV Volunteers and the Overall OAV Volunteer Coordinator in Riyadh was the newly elected President of the OFW Congress.
Considering the importance of a visiting DFA official from Manila, at 3:00 PM the members of the NAMFREL volunteers headed by Mr. Rodel Yap & Mr. Vic Barrazona made a courtesy meeting with Undersecretary Brillantes and discussed the NAMFREL duties in the forthcoming counting and the canvassing of votes.
The whole day of the conduct of voting was generally peaceful and overall assessments on the 2nd Thursday of absentee voting period in Riyadh run very smoothly.
April 23, 2004 (Friday @ 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM)
At 7:30 AM (Friday) the group of volunteers are all set on their usual jobs, to assist the voters in finding their respective precincts alphabetically. The voters keep coming in and out at the Philippine Embassy and it was calculated that the biggest number of absentee voters was on April 23, 2004.
At the Main Entrance Gate of the Diplomatic Quarter, a normal scene of strict implementation of security measures from the host government for all the incoming vehicles. The barricade prevents big buses to enter the Diplomatic Quarter, the reasons that some of our fellow Absentee Voters was stopped at the entrance area. But immediate action from our Embassy officials headed by Vice Consul Addy Cruz, Mr. Tom Lawson and Mr. Kiango Sandayan by providing mini bus and other vehicles to transport them going to the Embassy.
The ID Distribution Desk as usual are crowded from morning till in the afternoon, most of our fellow absentee voters after casting votes proceeds to the IDDD while others wants to have their ID’s first before casting their votes. The long queue starts from the basketball court going to the IDD Desk.
At Gate No. 2 going to the Basement, our energetic community leaders who volunteers under the Public Assistance Committee were busy distributing precinct assignment guide to our fellow absentee voters changing locations to avoid the heat of the sun. The guide indicates the precincts number where the voters assigned to cast their votes according to their surnames or last name.
Also, at the basement where precincts Nos. 3 to 10 are located, long lines of voters are waiting for their turn to enter the polling booth. These prompted the volunteer marshals to halt for a while the other group of voters in the shaded area near the basketball court to prevent the overcrowding in the basement area.
Medical Teams from various hospitals and clinics in the Kingdom were there too to gave free medical consultations to our fellow OFW’s. The team of nurses and doctors are divided into 2 groups, one in front of the Philippine Embassy near the chancery and the other group at the parking area near the cooperative canteen.
At noon time our volunteers from various community organizations take their lunch together as a gesture of a good team spirit at the basketball court. Volunteer Ms. Lina Perez of OFW Congress and her Pinoy Friendly Group provided the lunch.
Figures not permitted:
As far as the Election Law is concerned the request on the exact figures of the Absentee Voters who already casts their votes is not permitted. However, Philippine Embassy officials said that last Friday, April 23, 2004 was so far the highest number of voters compared from the past few days since the start of the voting period.
Campaign strictly not allowed:
In the afternoon between 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Saudi Authorities apprehended 3 absentee voters outside the embassy premises distributing campaign flyers, which is against the Comelec Rules and the host country. Public Assistance Committee Head Mr. Joey Badong interceded on behalf of the 3 OFW’s and was able to negotiate with the Saudi Authorities for their released. Though the mentioned 3 OFW’s maintained that they don’t know that election campaign flyers are not allowed in the Diplomatic Quarters outside Philippine Embassy.
Volunteers Error:
Some of our volunteer marshals manning the precincts areas were reprimanded by members of the SBEI’s (Special Ballot Election Inspectors) particularly Precincts No. 6 for minor errors such as mistake in assisting absentee voters in their correct assigned precincts numbers.
Mr. Alex Bello brought this matter to Vice Consul Adrian Cruz that such percentage errors must be reported accordingly to the head of the volunteers or to the Vice Consul himself in order to rectify such mistake in a cordial manner. Mr. Alex Bello reminded Vice Consul Cruz that our volunteers are there just to lend a hand in the conduct of the election without any return or compensation and their presence is highly commendable rather than to be reprimanded in an unpleasant way.
Unregistered OFW’s feel sorry:
Unregistered OFW’s who happen to visit the Philippine Embassy by accompanying their friends to vote commented that they feel sorry for themselves for not able to register as absentee voters and only just to realized how importance is our right of suffrage.
The general scenario of the conduct of voting on Friday, April 23, 2004 was generally peaceful and orderly.
Prepared By:
Manuel “Bong” Amora
OAV Volunteer
Asst. Volunteer Coordinator
Information/Secretariat
Verified Correct By:
Mr. Alex Veloso Bello
OAV Overall Volunteer Coordinator
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THE FIRST OAV FILCOM VOLUNTEERS:
1 Mr. Alex Bello
2 Dr. Mohammad Astillero
3 Mr. Mike Bolos
4 Mr. Manuel Amora
5 Mr. Angel Pantoja
6 Mr. Ismail Sulit
7 Mr. Senan Angara
8 Mr. Macario Escober
9 Mr. Prudee Del Mundo
10 Mr. Leonilo Villanueva
11 Mr. Manuel Lector
12 Mr. Rolando Calitis
13 Mr. Noli Benavent
14 Mr. Joey Badong
15 Mr. William Jao
16 Mr. Ismail Sulit
17 Ms. Magdalena Perez
18 Mr. Frank Naval
19 Mr. Rene Layug
20 Mr. Fernando Petite
21 Mr. Roberto Fernandez
22 Mr. Jaafar Angkaya
23 Ms. Valeriana Coronado
24 Mr. Florencio Coronado
31 Mr. Dan De Jesus
32 Mr. Tony Apolto
33 Ms. Ameurfina Silo
34 Dr. Mash Ayunan
35 Dra. Ma. Theresa B. Alejo
36 Ms. Purificasion D. Jusay
37 Ms. Pamela Gangoso
38 Ms. Anabelle U. Condeza
39 Mr. Andrybonn M. Laino
40 Mr. Boggs Bolor
41 Mr. Mona “Dante” Pangcoga
42 Mr. Allan Makabangkit
43 Mr. Bernard Abad
44 Mr. Faisal Mercurio
45 Mr. Bhoy Macion
46 Mr. Rene Arevalo
47 Mr. Daniel Dalapo
48 Mr. Artiro Lontoc
49 Mr. Wison Abugni
50 Mr. Rey Herrera
51 Mr. Elmer Nagac
52 Mr. Florencio Esguerra
53 Mr. James Brigoli
54 Ms. Farah Jean Avanzado
55 Mr. Genelito Avanzado
56 Mr. Devi Abilay
57 Mr. Edmund Vitor
58 Mr. Henry Dacanay
59 Mr. Diosdado De Guzman
60 Mr. Jose Concepcion
61 Mr. Renato Reforsado
62 Ms. Bonifacio dela Rosa
63 Mr. Albert Calingasan
64 Mr. Randy Berano
65 Mr. Florencio Maga
66 Mr. Nursiry Omar
67 Mr. Raymundo Jojo
68 Mr. Eduardo Clavero
69 Mr. Benjamin Ensoy, Jr.
70 Mr. Leonides Paradero
71 Mr. Samuel Parras
72 Mr. Joel Borre
73 Mr. Julio Yebra
74 Mr. Domingo Ludovice, Jr.
75 Mr. Eddie Dacera
76 Mr. Mr. Resty Seletaria
77 Mr. Herminio Balbin
78 Mr. Lino Ambe
79 Mr. John Pantoc
80 Mr. Roberto Villaruz
81 Mr. Lyndon Navarro
82 Mr. Ibrahim Banacia
83 Mr. Ernesto Denicolas
84 Mr. Hermes Hervera
85 Mr. Romeo Coronado
86 Mr. Larry Lapore
87 Mr. Angelito Lorin
88 Mr. Angelito Leviste
89 Mr. Arthur Magno
90 Mr. Jimmy Andaluz
91 Mr. Jhun Aquinio
92 Mr. Ronnie Cabrales
93 Mr. Nursing Omar
94 Mr. Cresensio Pamplona
95 Mr. Ricardo Calong
96 Mr. Enrico Nadera
97 Mr. Lolito Alejo
98 Mr. Andresito Mascarina
99 Mr. Rafael Opol
100 Mr. Jun Sigaya
105 Mr. Jimmy Arellano
106 Mr. Liberito Cortez
107 Mr. Fernando Lombo
108 Ms. Fairsha Lim
109 Ms. Marilyn Hamsirani
110 Mr. Allan Salvador
111 Ms. Severa Saad
112 Ms. Lalaine Matrio
113 Mr. Ronilo Infante
114 Mr. Jaime Maalre
115 Mr. Bueanvides Michael
116 Mr. Jun Derzada
117 Mr. Lino Liporada
118 Mr. Julius Amoyo
119 Mr. Robert Makabanta
120 Dr. Sandra Limsi
121 Dr. Maria Victoria Carmen Cango
122 Dr. Zahara Lumbang
123 Dr. Maria Divina Velasco
124 Dr. Ervie Muescano
125 Dr. Ann Sharon Alvarez
126 Ms. Catherine Suficiencia
127 Dr. Malliza Fortaleza
128 Ms. Emily Evangelista
129 Ms. Maureen Alabado
130 Mr. Virgil de Jesus
131 Mr. Emmanuel Dumaguing
132 Mr. Ricardo Caicong
133 Mr. Cimafranca
134 Mr. Alexander Toledo
135 Mr. Manuel Umali
136 Mr. Isabelo Padwal
137 Mr. John Padtoc
138 Mr. Victor Villaro
138 Mr. Galvan Nestor
139 Mr. Ruben Eustaquio, Jr.
140 Mr. Lito Gato
141 Mr. Romeo Fernandez
142 Mr. Pablo Magallanes
143 Mr. Wilmer Estrellado
144 Mr. Elmer Villareal
145 Mr. Florencio Estepa
146 Mr. Julius Sadagnot
147 Ms. Christine Rafisura
148 Ms. Cora Medina
149 Mr. Nilo Odecta
150 Mr. Mariano Gapuz
151 Mr. Migule Pagurayan
152 Ms. Marivis C. Duque
153 Mr. Sandy Mansaniros
154 Mr. Villamayor Manaligod
155 Mr. Fermin Tocino
156 Mr. Romeo Navera
157 Mr. Mario Ampaya
158 Mr. Isabelo Padral
159 Mr. Jhun Maquinto
160 Mr. Aguilar Ariel
161 Mr. Benjamin Bucatcat
162 Mr. Doming Ravasa
163 Mr. Marben Delgado
164 Mrs. Elena Astillero
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The First Overseas Absentee Voting Exercise in Retrospect
by Global Filipinos
Sept. 25, 2004
Start Early
The first overseas voting exercise imparted the important message that it is highly advisable to have an early preparation. With this in mind, Global Filipinos Coalition, in active collaboration with various overseas Filipinos-related non-government organizations, held a Workshop for the Review of the Overseas Absentee Voting and its Implementation on August 27, 2004 at the Senate of the Philippines.
Section 28 of the Overseas Absentee Voting law states that “Congress shall complete a mandatory review of this Act within two (2) years following the May, 2004 elections for the purpose of amending it to expand or restrict its coverage, scope and application, as well as improve its procedures and institute measures and safeguards, taking into account the experience of the previous elections, technological advances and structural political changes.”
Broad Participation
The workshop was a well-represented event. Representatives from seventeen (17) NGOs and companies attended, as well as representatives from the Office of the President; the Commission on Elections (COMELEC); the Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat (OAVS) under the Department of Foreign Affairs; the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO); and, the Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI).
There was a high-powered panel who made presentations, including Commissioner Florentino A. Tuason, Jr., Chairman of the Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting of the COMELEC; Usec. Rafael Seguis, Chairman of the OAVS; and, Ms. Catherine P. Maceda, Vice Chair of the OAVS. Sen. Edgardo J. Angara, major sponsor of the OAV bill in the Senate, addressed the audience, as did former Vice President Teofisto Guingona. Former Congressman Apolinario Lozada, Jr., major sponsor of the OAV bill in the House of Representatives, was also in attendance. Mr. Victor S. Barrios, Chairman of the Global Filipinos, emceed the event.
In his welcome remarks, Sen. Pimentel, the acknowledged champion of the overseas absentee voting cause, recognized the valuable support of Commissioner Tuason, Vice Chair Maceda, ECMI, Global Filipinos and other NGOs. He expressed the hope that the participants would benefit from an exchange of views that will allow legislators to “enact whatever remedial legislation is needed to make the Overseas Absentee Voting Act a vital tool that will enable our Overseas Filipinos to participate in and influence in a positive manner the outcome of the nation's election contests.”
Overseas Absentee Voting: In Retrospect
Vice Chair Maceda presented a retrospective of the Overseas Absentee experience that generated a cascade of statistics: a total of 364,187 overseas Filipinos registered, of whom 233,092 voted. A total of 393 applications was disapproved. The voting turnout was 65%, a significant figure considering the learning curve experienced and not far from the 72% voter turnout in the Philippines. There were 138 precincts in 81 foreign posts, 3 MECO posts and 3 satellite posts. An additional 300 field precincts were set up for counting, bringing the total number of precincts to 438. Only 642 seafarers managed to vote or a turn-out of 28% of the total registrants.
There was a 44% turn-out of postal voters in Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) where voting by mail was adopted. Of the total mailed ballots sent back to the embassies/consulates, 8% were invalidated because of the lack of signature on the outer envelopes.
As much as 80% of voters voted outside the embassies and consulates, leading to the conclusion that without field registration and field voting centers, the first overseas absentee voting experience would have yielded far lower performance data.
The “last-minute syndrome” attitude of the Filipinos came into play during the registration period. There were 2,112 daily average registrants during the first 10 days of registration, which figure drastically rose to around 16,000 a day during the last 10 days. The average turnout of voters was more evenly spread out, with voters avoiding the rush by voting early. The shortest counting time was 8 hours, while the longest took 100 hours spread over 4 days in one Hong Kong precinct. There were 27 posts that did not have lawyers to head the Special Boards of Canvassers (SBOCs), prompting COMELEC to send lawyers to each Post to chair the SBOC.
Giving human face to the voters, Vice Chair Maceda recounted the tenacity of one voter in Germany who had to leave at dawn just to arrive at his precinct 30 minutes before closing time. A nun had to travel from Norway to Sweden just to vote matched his fortitude.
In-House ERB
In his presentation, Commissioner Tuason called the first OAV implementation a “resounding success” despite the relatively low turnout. He reasoned that it has proven that Philippine elections “can be conducted honestly, peacefully and orderly and with the spirit of camaraderie and volunteerism.” He hopes that someday, “the skeptical attitude towards COMELEC will vanish,” one reason being the success of this first overseas voting exercise, which was held against great odds.
In regard of procedural aspect of the electoral process, Commissioner Tuason had two very important and emphatic messages to impart: The first is the absolute necessity to automate the next elections; and the second, equally as important, is that need for COMELEC to set up an in-house Election Registration Board (ERB) at the Manila head office. By doing so, it can now process all the applications for registration and voting instead of farming them out to the local ERBs where applications could experience delays or may be misplaced aside from savings in enormous costs. Vice Chair Maceda echoed this recommendation, pointing out the fact that to this day, there are still applications that have not reached COMELEC Manila. An in-house ERB, they said, would solve as much as 80% of the problems experienced in the overseas absentee voting. The whole workshop body unanimously approved this recommendation.
Continuing Registration
Vice Chair Maceda zeroed in on the need to implement the continuing registration for overseas voters. This process, she said, would prevent the time constraints that had dogged the preparations in the last elections. Commissioner Tuason gave his assurance that COMELEC would work toward the start of registration during the first quarter of next year on the condition that the in-house ERB would be in place and the application forms would be revised to make them user-friendlier.
Other important recommendations that the workshop body agreed upon were on the subjects of: expanding postal voting areas; considering registration and voting by mail and e-mail for the seafarers; allowing field voting only where field registration was also allowed and conditioned upon the number of registrants; setting voting hours that are convenient to voters, considering their working hours and days off; using a secure voter’s certificate for online voting; reviewing the accountable documents and taking out the ballot paper from the list of accountable documents; continuous voters’ education and information dissemination even on non-election years; allowing electronic transmission of electoral data; and, a liberal interpretation of the law and the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) by the COMELEC.
Botong Pinoy
The Mega Group of Computer Companies gave a short presentation on the issue of automation. They suggested linking the registration process with the DFA's passport database using the machine-readable passport system once this is in place. This feature will enable embassy and consular officers to immediately verify the identification of the registrant on site, saving time and resources to send the documents to Manila and wait for Comelec's verification.
A Success
The workshop marked a healthy maturity in the relationship of all partner government entities in the overseas absentee voting process and participants/representatives of overseas Filipino communities. The workshop participants could not have hoped for a better outcome than what the constructive workshop has produced in terms of workshop output and cemented relationships.
Senator Pimentel and Global Filipinos hope that this workshop will pave the way for a successful review of the Overseas Absentee Voting law by the new Joint Congressional Oversight Committee so that, in the words of Sen. Pimentel, we will move toward “our goal of getting the full participation by our brethren overseas in our national elections.”
Note:
For more information please visit http://www.globalfilipinos.com/news.php?id=633) Workshop output by Workshop Participants
posted by Manuel Amora | 12:00 AM
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