Measures sought to let 4K OFWs in ‘troubled areas’ vote

FILE: ELECTION PULSE. Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson. Director James Jimenez (left), says that the poll body has designated common poster areas for candidates to put up their campaign materials during the National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) media forum, entitled “Election Pulse” held at the NPC Building in Intramuros, Manila on Friday (Feb. 15, 2019). Jimenez also appealed to the public report any violations of candidates running in the 2019 mid-term elections so that the Comelec can file charges against them. He also encouraged the voters to take photos of the candidates, who violate the rules with complete details and send to their office. Also in photo is NPC President Rolly “Lakay” Gonzalo. (PNA photo by Ben Briones).

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking at measures on how to allow some 4,000 Filipinos to vote in three areas where overseas voting has been suspended.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said he still needs to verify if the voters from these places have been allowed to vote in other posts near them.

“Well in previous elections hindi naman sila nakaboto (they were not able to vote).

I have to verify if they were allowed to vote in adjacent jurisdictions,” he said.

“Remember the safety situation there that’s why the Comelec deemed it necessary to suspend the voting in these areas. (We) will have to get clarity on policy on letting the vote in adjacent areas,” Jimenez added.

Earlier, the poll body has suspended the elections in Damascus in Syria, Tripoli in Libya, and Baghdad in Iraq due to the conflict in the areas.

Based on Comelec data, around 4,000 overseas voters are presently registered to vote in the three posts.

The overseas voting period started on Saturday, April 13 and will run up to May 13.

Records show that there are a total of 1,822,173 overseas voters.