Speaking to CNN Philippines, Migrante International chairperson Joanna Concepcion said they fear the same situation will happen in Saudi Arabia once more OFWs cast their ballots.
She noted that from the previous five vote counting machines, only one is being used in the first few days of overseas voting there.
Concepcion also said many Philippine embassies and consulates abroad have yet to receive their election materials due to various reasons like getting stuck at the customs.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11) — The Commission on Elections committed to double the voting capacity in Hong Kong this week after some overseas Filipino workers there failed to vote due to limited capacity on Day 1 of overseas voting last Sunday.
Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said officials will double the number of vote counting machines to accommodate up to 5,000 overseas absentee voters per day.
“By tomorrow or Wednesday, not only 5 ang VCM, magiging 10 na po. That is to cater to the influx of our overseas voters lalo na holidays and weekends,” he said in a media briefing on Monday.
[Translation: By tomorrow or Wednesday, there will be 10 VCMs there to cater to the influx of overseas voters, especially on holidays and weekends.]
Consul General Raly Tejada said people are fewer on weekdays so he advised OFWs to drop by on those days until May 9. He also urged employers to allow voting OFW to be excused from work.
Only 3,000 people voted on Day 1 of the absentee voting, but Casquejo said this was upon the request of Hong Kong police after noticing violations in physical distancing as the special administrative region battles a a surge of the more transmissible Omicron variant.
He said as long as people line up, they will be allowed to vote.
“Kapag nandoon ka na, the post can extend its time kahit lagpas na sa voting hours,” Casquejo said.
[Translation: If you are lined up, the post can extend its operation hours even if it’s past voting hours.]
Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite, meanwhile, said he will ask for an investigation into what he called “chaotic and disorganized” election system in Hong Kong.
“We cannot allow the potential massive disenfranchisment of our overseas voters due to the ineptitude and lack of proper organizing by these officials,” he said.
Around 93,000 OFWs in Hong Kong are registered voters.
The overseas absentee voting opened on April 10. More than 1.69 million Filipino voters can pick their president, vice president, senators, and a party-list group of choice.
