Bayan Muna solons want probe into 'disorganized' overseas voting for Eleksyon 2022

Lawmakers from Bayan Muna on Tuesday called for an investigation into the supposed “disorganized” voting system in other countries on the first day of the overseas absentee voting for Eleksyon 2022.

Representatives Carlos Isagani Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, and Ferdinand Gaite filed House Resolution 2554 calling on the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms to look into the complaints of Filipino voters abroad, including the lack of vote counting machines.

The lawmakers cited an instance in Hong Kong wherein thousands of voters were not accommodated on the first day of overseas voting as only five VCMs were provided by the Commission on Elections.

They said: “The provision of additional VCMs could have hastened the voting process and lessened queues. Additional measures such as scheduling of voters and extended voting hours could also be considered to accommodate the thousands of overseas voters who wish to exercise their right to vote.”

Aside from the insufficient VCMs, the lawmakers also mentioned the issue on alleged pre-shaded ballots, which were supposedly given to voters.

The Bayan Muna representatives stressed that Congress should ensure that there will be no massive disenfranchisement in the overseas voting.

GMA News Online reached Comelec for comment regarding the matter.

The poll body earlier said the Task Force Against Fake News would discuss

Meanwhile, in a separate press release, Antique Representative and BBM-Sara UniTeam senatorial candidate Loren Legarda urged overseas Filipino workers to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming polls.

Legarda is one of the co-authors of the Overseas Absentee Voting Law of 2003.

“Overseas Filipinos should take advantage of the opportunity to elect their next leaders, and to choose wisely. Hinikayat ko ang ating mga kababayan sa labas ng bansa na huwag sasayangin ang inyong boto dahil nakasalalay dito ang kalagayan at kinabukasan ninyong mga OFW, ng inyong pamilya, at ng buong bansa,” Legarda said.

(I am urging our kababayans abroad to not waste their right to vote as their welfare, as well as that of their families and the entire nation, depends on their votes.)

Legarda said the Department of Foreign Affairs should ensure that the process will be smooth for Filipinos abroad who will cast their votes.

“I trust that our embassies and consulates worldwide will provide adequate assistance to almost 1.7 million registered Filipino overseas to ensure that the voting process will go smoothly. Let us help our kababayan overseas as they exercise their right to take part in electing the leaders who they think will give them and their family the service and protection that they needed,” she said. —KG, GMA News