Sept. 30 deadline to change OAV status set

INQUIRER.net
Posted date: May 14, 2009

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has moved the deadline for Filipinos returning from abroad to transfer their voter registration to the country to September 30 from October 31, election officials said.

Unless Filipino citizens from abroad, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), transfer their voter records and change their overseas absentee voter (OAV) status, they will not be able to vote in 2010, said lawyer Glinis Tamondong, a member of the Comelec’s Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV).

Tamondong said the deadline was moved to September 30 after the Comelec moved the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy to November 30 instead of January 2010.

The COAV has received three batches of letter requests containing hundreds of appeals for transfer of OAV records since registration started in February, the official said.

The Election Registration Board hears the requests for transfer while guarding against possible fraud, Tamondong said.

Meanwhile, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez urged Filipinos abroad to beat the August 31 deadline to register as overseas absentee voters.

“We urge our OFWs to register for the 2010 elections. They can coordinate with any post or consulate abroad or with the Department of Foreign Affairs and OFW groups worldwide. Let us aim for one million absentee voters for the 2010 elections,” Jimenez said.

Applicants for overseas absentee voting need to present a valid Philippine passport or in the absence of a passport, a certification from the DFA; a photocopy of the Seaman’s Book if the applicant is a seafarer; and the original or certified true copy of the application to retain of reacquire Filipino citizenship if the applicant is has dual citizenship.

Anna Valmero