Noynoy cites voters' apathy for low OAV turnout

An opposition senatorial candidate attributed on Monday the low turnout of overseas absentee voters to apathy as a consequence of the lingering allegations of cheating in the 2004 presidential elections. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, senatorial candidate under the Genuine Opposition banner, said many voters here and abroad have apparently lost trust in the electoral system following the unresolved issues surrounding the "Hello, Garci" scandal where a female voice resembling that of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was recorded in a telephone conversation with a male voice similar to that of former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano talking about having a lead of one million votes. On the first day of the 30-day absentee voting period on Saturday, only 235 voters in Hong Kong showed up to cast their votes for senators and a party-list group. The number pales in comparison to 4,000 first day voters in the 2004 elections. Insufficient information Incumbent Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, blamed the insufficient information campaign by the Commission on Elections for the low turn out. "They (Comelec) don't have any excuse, they have enough funds and time necessary to conduct a successful overseas absentee voting," Gordon said in a radio interview. "The Comelec should explain who they spent the funds meant for absentee voting." Gordon noted that Congress has allocated P248 million for the implementation of the Overseas Absentee Voting law. However, Gordon noted that despite adequate funding, only 148,000 have registered as additional absentee voters, compared to the 2004 elections when over 300,000 have registered. Gordon is at odds with Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. Gordon, author and sponsor of the Automated Elections System law over the decision of Comelec to scrap the pilot testing of computerized voting in selected areas for "lack of time". On the other hand, the poll body had insisted on pilot testing an Internet voting system in Singapore, which Gordon strongly opposed. The senator stressed that the Internet voting system is not allowed by law and that it is not secure. Protect OFW votes Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., an independent re-electionist senator, underscored the need to ensure that OFWs’ votes are protected and properly counted. “Although we have faith in the capability of the Department of Foreign Affairs and their officers serving abroad, we do not discount the possibility that should one or two decide to commit fraud, election results would be compromised," said Villar, president of Nacionalista Party and an adopted candidate of the Genuine Opposition. “But given such possibility, we choose to remain optimistic that our OFWs’ exercise of their right of suffrage through absentee voting will be given due protection in the same way that their hard work is recognized by our government as a pillar of our economy,"Villar said. Villar spent a weekend in Hong Kong, where he placed second in the April 8 mock elections conducted and participated in by OFWs, many of whom received counseling from the reelectionist senator on various concerns. “Absentee voting is a good mechanism which enables our overseas workers to participate in the electoral process in the country," Villar said. “However, we cannot deny that we in the opposition are anxious about the entire process, particularly because the ballot boxes stay for a month abroad where our OFWs cast their votes," he added. Cynical voters Aquino said the anticipated low turn out of votes in this year's election could be traced to the prevailing sentiment of cynicism that has infected the voting populace including voters outside the country. No less than Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. observed the very low registration of absentee voters in the United States, including Hawaii, where there are close to two million Filipinos, but only more than 11,000 registered OAVs. "The truth behind the Hello Garci controversy should have been discovered had the impeachment been allowed to proceed and culpable parties punished," said Aquino, three-term congressman of Tarlac. "While it is sad that the people have diminishing trust on a democratic exercise, they cannot be blamed for thinking that election in the Philippines will always be tainted with fraud as long as the reins of power are in the hands of personalities who have a lot to answer for," Aquino lamented. Aquino also noted with dismay that this was similarly one of the reasons why as many as four million first-time voters did not register to be able to vote in this coming election. During the canvassing of votes for the 2004 presidential elections, then Commission on Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano was taped talking to President Macapagal-Arroyo about allegedly manipulating the results. "Voters' apathy can be gleaned from the fact that of the nine million Filipinos abroad, only over 500,000 have registered for absentee voting and since the start of the second overseas absentee voting exercise on Saturday, only a handful have turned up to cast their votes," Aquino said. Last-minute voters In an interview on radio, Department of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Claro Cristobal said as of Monday, a total of about 1,000 voters from around the world have cast their votes for senators and party list representatives. "I can only hope that come May 14, we will have a convincing voters' turn out and make this election a referendum on the legitimacy of this administration," Aquino said. Earlier, Comelec Commissioner Florentino Tuason Jr was quoted in news reports as saying that while the usual "last-minute syndrome" could account for the low turnout, the required affidavit on a voter's intent to return to the Philippines could be the main reason why millions of Filipinos abroad did not even bother to register for the May 14 polls. "It is really a deterrent. We would have had more registered voters from Europe, Canada, the United States and Australia, among others, if we did not have such a requirement," Tuason said. The affidavit states that a voter will return to the country to take up permanent residence not later than three years after the approval of his or her registration as an absentee voter. The requirement was inserted in the law to curb the so-called brain drain and to encourage overseas workers to invest in the country instead of staying abroad to work. Dual citizens are qualified to register, even if they have not lived in the country for a long period of time. "We have suggested this to Congress in the past, right after the 2004 polls. After the May 14 elections, we would have to do another assessment, and we will again be pushing for this so our workers abroad will no longer have to sign this impractical affidavit," Tuason said. Registered absentee voters for this year's elections total 504,122, including 18,404 seafarers who may vote in 16 designated ports around the world. - GMANews.TV