Senator Robinhood Padilla is calling on the government to pay attention to the fears of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) about the online voting system that will be used in the May 2025 elections.
At a press conference in Quezon City, Padilla narrated this was the sentiment he gathered when he talked to OFWs in some countries in Europe and the Middle East.
“Lahat sila, ang pakiusap, gusto nila ‘yung dati nilang ginagawa, kung anong kinaugalian nila.”
“Itong issue ng online, sa totoo lang, ako ay galing sa ibang bansa. Nanggaling ako The Hague, Germany, Poland, Qatar at ibang lugar … Lahat sila, ang pakiusap, gusto nila yung dati nilang ginagawa, kung anong kinaugalian nila,” the legislator explained.
“Hindi ako nandito para makipagkontrahan sa Comelec. Ang puso ng OFW medyo alanganin sila sa online,” the lawmaker added.
The senator said some of the OFWs he talked to are considering boycotting the elections, but he tried to talk them out of it.
“It is important that the OFWs cast their votes.”
He stressed it is important that the OFWs cast their votes. Padilla added he was prepared to accompany them in enrolling for voting in the midterm polls.
“Kahit ako na sumama sa inyo mag-enrol kayo sapagka’t kailangan ninyong bumoto,” he said.
“Pero sana po sa ating namumuno sa bayang ito lalo sa Comelec, intindihin nyo sana ang damdamin ng ating OFW. ‘Yan din hiling namin sa Korte Suprema,” Padilla added.
He said it will be better if the proper authorities set aside time to listen to and address the OFWs’ concerns.
Meanwhile, Padilla reminded the public that they will be the most powerful in the land on Election Day. Thus, he said they must choose their leaders wisely.
“Mga mahal kong kababayan yan ang kapangyarihan nyo sa araw na ‘yan… kaya ang pakiusap ko sa inyo, maging mapagbantay kayo, maging mapagmatyag, dahil sa araw na ‘yan pag boto ninyo una ay di nabilang o ang boto naiba, ibig sabihin niyan ay tinanggalan kayo ng kapangyarihan,” he said.
“Dapat ipaglaban ninyo ang kapangyarihan ninyong ‘yan dahil ‘yan ang magdedesisyon ng kinabukasan ng ating bayan. Wag nyo ipagpapalit ang araw na ‘yan dahil ‘yan ang araw ninyo,” Padilla concluded.
