RIYADH, 6 March 2004 — A four-member team from Manila conducted a retraining program yesterday among OFW volunteers and members of the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) who will administer the voting for Filipinos in the Kingdom from March 12 to May 10.
Director Mamasapudon Aguam of the the Philippine Commission on Election (Comelec) said the volunteers and inspectors needed a second training program because the first one underwent earlier this year was on the automated counting of votes. “We had to orient them about the procedure on manual counting of votes,” Aguam said.
The Comelec had to revert to manual counting after the Supreme Court in Manila nullified a contract signed by the polling agency with a private group, which was to supply the computer system for automated. In its ruling, the court said the contract was full of irregularities.
Aguam’s team included lawyer Juan Corpuz and Mike Azurin of the Comelec and Boyet Tondares from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“The retraining program appears to be an earnest attempt to come up with an efficient and honest elections during the absentee voting among OFWs,” a member of the SBEI told Arab News in an interview at the Minhal Holiday Inn Hotel in Oleya.
The absentee voting will be held among land-based OFWs from April 11 to May 10 while seafarers can cast their votes from March 12, 2004 to May 10, 2004.
Voting must be done personally within the premises of embassies, consulates, other foreign service establishments and polling booths designated by the Comelec. Voting by mail is allowed only for OFWs in Britain, Canada and Japan.
Under the rules, only the SBEI members — the duly appointed observers — and voters are allowed inside the polling place. The SBEI has the authority to determine who may or may not enter the polling place, subject to Comelec guidelines.
“If an OFW has applied for registration as an overseas absentee voter but his or her name is not included in the Certified List of Overseas Absentee Voters, he/she can contact the Comelec or call 521-2952,” said a team member.
Voters have been enjoined to be careful when filling up the ballot issued to them. According to the Comelec team, no replacement would be issued for spoiled ballots.
“A ballot is considered spoiled when its serial number is not the same as that recorded by the SBEI chairman in the OAV Form 2, when the ballot coupon is detached without the presence of the SBEI and when it cannot be lawfully used,” said a member of the team.
Spoiled ballots are to be deposited in the compartment for spoiled ballots but it will not be counted.
OAV registrants whose names appear in the certified list of overseas absentee voters but did not indicate their mailing address in their application forms may inquire with the concerned Philippine Embassy or Consulate about their ballots.
Candidates and their representatives are allowed to campaign abroad but it will be subject to the laws of the host country.
Members of the foreign service corps cannot be asked to directly organize any meeting on behalf of a party or candidate, or assist in organizing or act as a liaison in organizing any such political meeting.
, according to the law. The prohibition applies to all meetings where a candidate will be present, including candidates who are incumbent officials of the government. Candidates are also not allowed to conduct meetings, political rallies or other campaign activities in the premises of the embassy, consulate or other foreign service establishments.
