THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO GRANT OUR FILIPINO OVERSEAS WORKER THE RIGHT TO VOTE, AND TO DATE A NUMBER OF BILLS HAVE BEEN FILED SEEKING TO EXTEND HIM SUCH RIGHT.  BUT UNLESS WE COMPUTERIZE AND CLEANSE THE ELECTORAL PROCESS – UNLESS WE INTRODUCE THE NECESSARY SAFEGUARDS – IT SEEMS INAPPROPRIATE TO TRANSFER THE TEMPTATIONS OF ‘DAGDAG BAWAS’ TO THE OVERSEAS FILIPINO AND IN EFFECT THRUST UPON HIM A FLAWED VOTING PROCESS THAT COULD PUT THE NATION TO SHAME BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

 THE EARLIER WE REFORM THE ELECTION PROCESS, THEREFORE, THE EARLIER WE CAN PASS THE NEEDED LEGISLATION ENABLING THE OVERSEAS FILIPINO TO VOTE.

 MOST IF NOT ALL THE PENDING BILLS SEEK TO GRANT ABSENTEE VOTING FOR CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, AND SENATORS.   SEEMS OKAY.  THEY ARE, AFTER ALL, NATIONAL OFFICIALS ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION.  BUT A CLOSER LOOK WOULD REVEAL CERTAIN PRACTICAL PROBLEMS.

 PERSONAL CAMPAIGN ABROAD COULD FACE GRAVE CHALLENGES.  THE HIGH COST, THE FAR FLUNG PLACES TO GO TO, THE MEANS TO REACH MILLIONS OF FILIPINOS IN FOREIGN LANDS.  NOT EVEN THE USE OF SOPHISTICATED TEXTING AND INTERNET FACILITIES COULD ADEQUATELY COMPLY WITH A CANDIDATE’S DESIRE TO EXPLAIN TO MILLIONS OF OFW’S HIS PERSONALITY AND PROGRAM.  FURTHERMORE THERE EXIST SOME COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA AND THE MIDDLE EAST WHERE GATHERING OF CAMPAIGN CROWDS ARE RESTRICTED.

 ABSENTEE VOTING COULD ALSO OPEN EMBASSIES ABROAD TO PARTISAN POLITICS.  AN AMBASSADOR IS BASICALLY NON-PARTISAN.  HE SERVES TO FOSTER ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL TIES BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND THE NATION HE IS ACCREDITED TO.  HE PROTECTS AND DEFENDS THE INTERESTS OF OUR CITIZENS ABROAD, INCLUDING THE GROWING NUMBER OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS.  HE IS NOT EXPECTED TO CAMPAIGN FOR ANY CANDIDATE, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF HIS NON PARTISAN TASKS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE EMBASSY ITSELF MAY BE USED IN THE ABSENTEE VOTING PROCESS.  TRUE, REPRESENTATIVES FROM COMELEC MAY BE SENT THERE BUT THE OFFICIALS AND PERSONNEL OF THE EMBASSY SHOULD ASSIST IN THE PROCESS OF REGISTRATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND QUALIFICATION OF VOTERS.  IF THE ACTUAL VOTE IS MADE IN THE PREMISES OF THE EMBASSY ITSELF, INCLUDING THE CANVASSING, AND NOT THRU THE MAILS, THEN THE WORK OF THE AMBASSADOR AND HIS STAFF BECOMES MORE COMPOUNDED.

 IN THE DISCHARGE OF THESE ADDITIONAL TASKS, IT IS BASIC THAT THE EMBASSY STAYS STRICTLY NEUTRAL LIKE THE COMELEC.

 AND IN ALL PROBABILITY THE EMBASSIES ABROAD WILL DO SO.  BUT BETWEEN PERCEPTION AND REALITY CLOUDS OF DOUBT MAY HOVER.  IF A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN A CLOSE FIGHT WINS OVERALL BUT LOSES HEAVILY IN A PARTICULAR EMBASSY – THE TEMPTATION FOR THAT WINNING CANDIDATE TO UNDULY GROUND OR TRANSFER THAT ENVOY TO A HARDSHIP POST COULD CREEP IN AND BECOME REALITY.  A PARTISAN POLITICAL ACT THAT COULD BE BAD FOR THE COUNTRY, BAD FOR THE INTERNATIONAL IMAGE.

 PERHAPS WE SHOULD INITIALLY REFOCUS OUR SIGHTS ON THE SIMPLE AND DOABLE – AND AFTER A SUCCESSFUL STAGE IN ABSENTEE VOTING – LATER ON MAKE THE NEEDED ADJUSTMENTS.

 THE PROPOSAL OF SOME OFW’S WE HAVE CONSULTED, INCLUDING AMBASSADORS ABROAD, IS TO ALLOW FILIPINO CITIZENS ABROAD TO VOTE FOR THEIR OWN REPRESENTATIVES WHO WILL SIT AS CONGRESSMEN HERE – REPRESENTING THEIR FILIPINO CONSTITUENTS THERE.  SAY JAPAN.  THERE ARE ABOUT TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND OF OUR COUNTRYMEN LIVING AND WORKING THERE.  THEY ELECT FROM AMONGST THEM THEIR REPRESENTATIVE WHO WILL SIT IN THE PHILIPPINE CONGRESS WITH VOICE AND VOTE AS A FULL PLEDGED CONGRESSMAN TO INITIATE AND ENACT BILLS OR RESOLUTIONS HE BELIEVES WILL REDOUND TO HIS CONSTITUENTS LIVING IN JAPAN.

 THERE ARE AT PRESENT AROUND 220 CONGRESSMEN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.  THE CONSTITUTION ALLOWS A MAXIMUM OF 250.  THEREFORE THERE STILL EXIST ALLOWANCE FOR OUR OFW’S TO ELECT THEIR OWN TO REPRESENT THEM IN CONGRESS.  PERHAPS ONE FOR EVERY TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND FILIPINO CITIZENS LIVING IN ONE COUNTRY OR AREA ABROAD.  DEPENDING ON A JUST AND RATIONAL FORMULA THAT CAN BE WORKED OUT.

 THIS WAY WE GRANT THEM A VIABLE PROCESS OF ABSENTEE VOTING.  THEY HAVE THEIR OWN NGO’S, THEIR OWN ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE COMELEC CAN LOOK INTO THEIR STATUS, ESTABLISH A FAIR CRITERIA FOR ACCREDITATION FOR THOSE WHO CAN ASSIST THEM IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

 WE SHOULD ALSO GET THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHER COUNTRIES HAVING ABSENTEE VOTING.  NOT SO MUCH THE DEVELOPED ONES LIKE THE U.S. BUT MORE THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WITH SIMILAR MIGRANTS LIKE THAILAND.  WE SHOULD ALSO OPEN MORE PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF THIS VITAL ISSUE, ASIDE FROM THE REGULAR PUBLIC HEARINGS CALLED BY CONGRESS.  DIFFERENT COUNTRIES HAVE DIVERSE CULTURES.  WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT THE FILIPINO ABROAD BE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE, PREFERRABLY FOR THE CANDIDATE OF HIS CHOICE WHO CAN IN THE EYES OF THE MAJORITY ABLY REPRESENT THEM IN CONGRESS.

 OUR OFW’S WORK ABROAD.  THEY SACRIFICE.  THEY EARN.  THEY SEND REMITTANCES HOME.  LET US IN TURN EXTEND TO HIM THE RIGHT TO VOTE.