JEDDAH, 25 September 2003 — Taking the cue from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, the Philippine Consulate General here yesterday said it was also extending the registration time for the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) exercise to accommodate more Filipinos.
Vice Consul Jose V. Jacob, the acting principal officer at the consulate, said he and his staff will work from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday until Sept. 30, the last day of registration.
“We are ready for the expected last minute rush of registrants,” Jacob said.
At closing time last night, the total number of registrants at the consulate was 20,612, or 932 for the whole day.
Registration in Riyadh and Alkhobar combined was said to have surpassed the 40,000 mark, but this was not officially confirmed.
Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla earlier ordered an 8 a.m.-8 p.m. registration time to accommodate late registrants.
Jacob echoed Guinomla’s appeal to Filipinos in the Kingdom who have not yet registered to beat the deadline so that they can vote in the May 2004 election.
Absentee voters are allowed to vote for the president, vice president, senators and party-list representatives.
