Comelec suspends voter registration in Israel

Comelec Chair George Garcia says the commission en banc has approved the indefinite suspension of voter registration for overseas voters in Israel for the 2025 elections. @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/mbremAwqrz

— Tina PanganibanPerez (@tinapperez) October 11, 2023

The Commission on Elections has suspended indefinitely the voter registration for overseas voters in Israel for the 2025 midterm elections.

In an interview on Wednesday, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the decision was made during the en banc’s meeting earlier in the day.

“Nagdesisyon na kanina ang en banc na sinususpend na po natin ang registration ng mga kababayan natin sa Israel. Ayaw po nating isakripisyo ang kanilang buhay,” Garcia told reporters.

[The Comelec en banc has decided to suspend the voter registration in Israel. We don't want to sacrifice the lives of our countrymen.] 

“Indefinite po ‘yung suspension natin at wala pa naman tayong pinag-iisipan kung mage-extend tayo. Ang importante, protektado at nasa maayos na kalagayan ang mga kababayan natin,” Garcia added.

[It’s and indefinite suspension and we have yet to decide whether to extend it or not. What’s important is that our countrymen are safe, protected and are in good condition.] 

Voter registration for overseas voters for the 2025 elections started in December 2022 and will run for two years.

The Comelec said there were 13,364 registered overseas voters in Israel for the 2022 national and local elections, of which 7,871 or 59% actually voted.

As of July 17, 2023, there are 9,906 active overseas Filipino registered voters in Israel. 

Israel, Hamas armed conflict

The Comelec decision came amid the ongoing conflict between Israeli security forces and the Hamas militant group.

On Saturday, Hamas launched its biggest attack on Israel in years, firing rockets and deploying gunmen to several towns, prompting the Israeli government to issue a state of war alert.

Israel launched retaliatory strikes on Gaza, with the death toll on both sides already in the hundreds and continuing to rise. World leaders have expressed condemnation on the attacks made by the Palestinian group.

The conflict has already resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people with thousands more wounded.

Two Filipinos have been confirmed dead amid the attacks. A third Filipino fatality is being verified. 

Israel is home to at least 30,000 workers from the Philippines, most of them caregivers, while 167 Filipinos are in Gaza Strip. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News