By Gerard Naval and Ashzel Hachero
THERE was no outright denial of reports that overseas voting got off to a “bad start” but the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday conceded that some hiccups were “unavoidable” due to logistical or COVID-19 issues.
In a press conference, Comelec-Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) head Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said overseas voting was off to a good start in majority of the 92 Philippine posts, describing it as “generally peaceful and successful.”
The poll body also disputed claims on social media that some overseas voting ballots in Singapore and Dubai have been pre-shaded. According to Comelec Commissioner George Garcia, they have not received reports of pre-shaded ballots being issued to overseas voters.
But the Philippine Embassy in Singapore said a spoiled ballot was “inadvertently” given to a voter although it stressed it was an isolated incident that would not affect the integrity of voting in the island-state.
“It has come to the attention of the Philippine Embassy that some unverified sources allege that pre-shaded ballots have been given to voters who came to the Embassy to cast their vote today. This is not true,” the embassy said in a statement.
“The Embassy is aware of only one incident wherein one spoiled ballot from yesterday’s voting exercise was inadvertently and unintentionally given to a voter this morning,” it added.
The embassy said the incident was properly and officially recorded in the official minutes of voting for automated election system voting posts.
“We wish to stress that this was an isolated incident. The embassy assures the public that it is totally committed to provide a system of honest and orderly absentee voting that upholds the integrity of the voting process,” it added.
Casquejo said the Philippine posts in Islamabad, Timor Leste, and Shanghai, whgere the manual system of voting will be used, has yet to start accommodating voters.
Casquejo also said that Philippine posts in Wellington, New York, and Milan have yet to open their polling centers. He added official ballots have been mailed to voters because the automated postal voting system will be used in these areas.
The Comelec said it will double the number of voting machines and Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) in Hong Kong due to the unexpected high voter turnout.
“Since we only have five existing vote counting machines, we have issued an advisory for additional machines and SBEIs. By tomorrow or Wednesday, the five VCMs will become 10 already,” said Casquejo. “This is to cater to the influx of overseas voters, especially during holidays and weekends, where many come to vote.”
He said the early closure of voting HK was due to the decision of the HK government to end voting hours earlier.
“The police of the host government said there are violations with social distancing and other COVID restrictions so they ordered a cut-off to the voting hours,” said Casquejo.
He issued the statement in the wake of reports that the Philippine post in HK failed to accommodate all Filipinos who showed up to vote last Sunday and yesterday.
There are a total of 93,886 registered overseas voters in Hong Kong.
Garcia said the poll body has assigned Commissioner Aimee Neri “to be in charge of the prosecution of individuals” reporting fake news on overseas voting.
“Let this be a warning: We would like to protect the integrity, not only of the Commission, but of the entire electoral process,” Garcia said.
Hong Kong Consul General Raly Tejada reminded Filipinos based abroad that “overseas voting will continue every day, with no break not even during public holidays, for 30 days or until May 9, 2022.”
A total of 1,697,215 overseas Filipinos are registered to vote in the May 9 elections.
