“The 2019 midterm elections for the overseas absentee voting kicked-off last April 13, 2019 but not all registered Filipino voters who were supposed to receive mailing packets containing their ballots have received the same even to this date,” declared Senator Koko Pimentel III, Chairman of the Senate Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation Committee.
“Many voters, especially in Washington, DC, USA, are complaining that they have not received their ballots yet. I have information that this is because the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has remitted only 50 percent of the postage funding requirements to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) consulates in some regions. Thus, consulates would even advance their own funds just to cover their mailing expenses for the elections,” added Pimentel.
“Consulates would even advance their own funds just to cover their mailing expenses for the elections.”
According to the legislator, voting is a fundamental right of every citizen wherever they are.
“Voting is a fundamental right of every citizen wherever they are.”
“This is not acceptable as Filipino voters abroad went out of their way to register for the elections, only to be deprived of their voting right because of lack of funding by the COMELEC,” the lawmaker stressed.
“COMELEC should provide 100 percent postage funding to all DFA consulates and embassies so all registered OFWs can participate in this election,” the senator said.
