RIYADH, 19 March 2004 — The Philippine Embassy announced yesterday that it will be open daily for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to claim their identification cards for absentee voting scheduled from April 11 to May 10. “We are opening the embassy seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., to make sure that all OFWs registered in Riyadh can claim their IDs,” said Minister Mariano A. Dumia, the acting embassy head.
Filipinos in the Eastern Province were sent their IDs through Philippine Overseas Labor Office staff, although it’s not yet clear if they could cast their ballots there.”
“We’re still waiting for approval by the Saudi authorities to allow OFWs to vote in the Eastern Province,” said Vice Consul Adrian Elmer Cruz, who is the coordinator for absentee voting of the embassy.
Dumia noted that around 1,000 IDs were issued on Wednesday and over 900 yesterday. In Jeddah, the consulate general issued 800 and another 800 yesterday, according to Administrative Officer Taha Guinomla.
About 40,000 OFWs are registered in Riyadh and 33,000 in Jeddah.
Two kinds of IDS were issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec): One with a picture and fingerprint of the bearer and one without. Both are legal and can be used for election purposes.
Dumia urged registered OFWs not to tamper with their IDs.
In Jeddah, Guinomla made the same plea. He also noted that many OFWs who registered did not receive their IDs. “We have taken their names and our cultural officer, Rose Justiniano, makes a daily report to the Comelec,” he said.
“Unclaimed IDs will be sent back to Comelec,” he added. Those who have left the country won’t be able to claim their IDs to use in the Philippines. They should have filed an affidavit before Dec 2003 stating their intention to vote in the Philippines.