Drilon laments low OAV turnout, urges OFWs to exercise right to vote

Senate President Franklin Drilon yesterday urged overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to participate in the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) and exercise their right to suffrage in the May elections.

Drilon, author of the OAV Act, said there are about five million Filipinos abroad who should use their right to vote as an absentee voter.

"I authored that, noon pa yan, iyan po ay aming ipinasa kasama doon sa Dual Citizenship Act. Yang Overseas Absentee Voting Act ay para po ang ating mga overseas workers ay pwedeng bumoto, dahil ang election natin, to elect future leaders, yaan po ay importante," Drilon said in a radio interview.

"Ngayon, dapat isali natin at ngayon nga ay isinasali natin ang mga estimated na 5 million na kababayan natin na pwedeng bumoto sa labas ng bansa," said Drilon who is running for reelection under the Liberal Party.

The OAV ( RA 9189) which was passed in February, 2003 allows citizens of the Philippines currently residing or working outside the country to vote in an election.

The law is being implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) with the help of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Yet, since its implementation, lawmakers and election officials noted a low voter turnout in OAV as only a few migrant Filipinos participate in the voting.

"Having said that, medyo nalulungkot po ako na medyo mahina ang (voter) turn- out sa ating mga kababayan," the Senate leader said.

"Ang panawagan ko po ngayon sa ating mga kababayan sa ibayong dagat, ang kinabukasan po natin ay depende sa mga leader na ating inihahalal. Ang karapatan po natin na maghalal ng maayos na pinuno, yaan po ang ating kinabukasan. Kaya hinihimok ko po kayo: Exercise your right to vote. Bumoto po kayo," Drilon said.

Absentee voters have at least 30 days prior to the May 9 elections to appear at their designated OAV precincts in countries where there is a heavy concentration of OFWs.

"Exercise your right to vote. Sumali po tayo sa mga halalan upang maayos ang mga lider na ating maihalal. Lalo na po sa ating overseas Flipino workers. Marami po sa inyo ay influential sa inyong mga kamag-anak dito sa ating bansa. Tulungan niyo po at magbigay ng advice kung sino ang karapat-dapat na may malinis na pamumuno, na ipagpapatuloy ang mga benepisyo ating nakakamtan," Drilon appealed.