PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

The Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines informs the public that Vote Counting Machines, overseas ballots, and other election materials intended for the forthcoming national elections in the Philippines are still in transit and have not yet arrived in New York.

The Consulate has been informed that the Vote Counting Machines and other election paraphernalia that were shipped by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from Manila are in Alaska but are expected to arrive within the week.

We issued an advisory about this delay and the postponement of the scheduled final testing and sealing of the Vote Counting Machines yesterday.

We wish to emphasize to the public that the Consulate is committed to ensuring the proper conduct of the overseas elections and in protecting the outcome.

We have been strongly promoting overseas voter registration and awareness about this year’s national elections. On Monday, 11 April, we will be hosting a webinar together with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to explain the postal voting method with our kababayan and, at the same time, respond to their election-related queries.

While we understand the concern of some kababayan about the delay in the arrival of election paraphernalia, their assertion of possible disenfranchisement and of us not being forthcoming about the said delay is unfair on our part as the delay is beyond the control of the Consulate.

The Consulate is making the necessary coordination to ensure that the Vote Counting Machines and other election materials will arrive in time for all registered overseas voters to be able to exercise their right to vote within the prescribed election period.