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By Nora O. Gamolo, OFW Times Editor
On May 21, migrant workers advocates called on
the Commission on Election (Comelec) to stress the need to refine
the scheme for overseas absentee voting (OAV) and clarify if it will
be included in the Comelec’s agenda to automate the 2010 elections
based on its enabling law, Republic Act (RA) No. 9369, that was
signed into law last year.
According to Ellene Sana, one of the advocates
who joined the delegation, the advocates are part of the network of
the ICOFVR (International Coalition for the Overseas Filipinos
Voting Rights) that count as members Sana’s group Center for
Migrant Advocacy, the Filipino Migrant Workers, Global Filipino
Nation, Pinoy Koop Worldwide, Economic Resource Center for Overseas
Filipinos, United Kingdom-based Phil-Jury, and the Commission on
Filipinos Overseas (CFO).
The advocates called on Comelec Chairman Jose
Melo and Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer, OAV focal point in the
Comelec; Rene Sarmiento, Felix Brawner and Moslemen T. Macarambon
Sr.
The migrants’ advocates were told that under
RA 9369, OAV is included in the automation plans for 2010. However,
there are varying opinions whether OAV should be targeted for 2010
automation due to many considerations including costing issues,
among others.
Sarmiento proposed that ICOFVR submit a position
paper on OAV automation that can be taken up en banc by Comelec, a
proposal agreed to by the groups.
Comelec also informed the group it promulgated
on May 20, just a day earlier, Resolution 8458 providing general
instructions for the resumption of continuing registration for OAV
for 2010.
The CFO will submit a letter of request to
Comelec to set up an OAV registration desk at the CFO for immigrants
and permanent residents.
CFO is a government agency, under the Office of
the President that takes care of Filipino immigrants and permanent
residents. Comm. Ferrer expressed familiarity with the CFO as many
years ago, when he was an immigrant based in the US, he also visited
CFO and attended one of its counselling sessions.
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