FILIPINO community leaders from Jeddah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, representing various organizations, are opposed to the move of the Philippine Congress to scrap the overseas absentee voting (OAV) law that allows some 10 million overseas Filipinos the right to cast their votes during national elections.
The community leaders expressed their opposition to the congressional move to get repeal of the Republic Act 9189, the law creating the OAV, during the tripartite forum convened recently in Riyadh by the Partidong Pangdaigdigang Pilipino (PPP), an alliance of leading community leaders working for the political, economic and social empowerment, as well as the solidarity of overseas Filipino workers.
During the forum, Vice Consul Roussel Reyes explained that there are sectors in the Philippine Congress who are now considering scrapping the OAV law if the number of those registering is low and/ or the turnout of votes is less than one million.
Joey Badong, from the PPP - Central Region, said overseas Filipinos around the world, notably those in Saudi Arabia, have worked hard for 15 years fighting for the rights of migrant Filipinos to participate in their country’s national election. “We fought for the passage of this law and scrapping it is not acceptable to us,” he said.
Dr. Lito Astillero, the president of PPP-Riyadh chapter, pointed out that Congress may amend the OAV law. “But scrapping and abolishing the law will send a very wrong and alarming signal to the over 10 million overseas Filipinos; and if this happens we (OFWs) are to be blamed because of our apathy,” he said.
Corlito Obtinalla, from PPP-Jeddah chapter, said there should be unified strategies on how to encourage OFWs to register and to persuade the registered voters to exercise their right of suffrage in the coming 2010 election.
Rudy Nazaruddin Dianalan, also from PPP-Jeddah, said that, “the use of the Internet should be considered in order to increase the participation of registered absentee Filipino voters.”
Elias Bonite and Bel Hugo from the PPP-Eastern Province said the participation of OFWs in national elections is one of the avenues “in changing and preparing the Philippines to be a better place to live.” They urged community leaders and other members to seek every opportunity to serve their homeland.
The community leaders from the three regions said that there should be a close and serious partnership between the government and overseas Filipinos in making the exercise of absentee voting workable and successful.
They came out with a number of proposals to be implemented in Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries where most Filipino workers are deployed.
“Our government does its utmost by giving us, the OFWs, the right to exercise our suffrage; so we must reciprocate by registering and casting our votes.
That is the best proof of good relations between the governor and the governed,” said Astillero, a leading community leader in Riyadh. – SG