1 October 2003, Paris – At the close of the two-month registration period for overseas absentee voters, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople said that the registration was carried out with little or no technical difficulties and that the targets set by the COMELEC had been exceeded.

The Secretary said that up to the last minute, several overseas Filipinos had gone to foreign posts to register. “I understand that many Filipinos showed up on the last day and on the last hour of registration.  I am happy to say that no one was turned away and that all of those who applied were allowed to register,” the Secretary said.

“Although we would have wanted all qualified overseas Filipinos to register, we were able to register a substantial number of overseas Filipinos and we were able to exceed the latest estimated target of COMELEC of 250,000,” the Secretary said.  He added that at the end of the registration period, 344,443 overseas Filipinos had registered.

“We encountered little or no technical problems in using modern technology for this registration,” Secretary Ople said, saying that initial procedural problems were easily resolved.

“I expect the final number to be a bit larger, as a few foreign service posts are still to complete submitting their data, which they can do up to 3 October 2003,” the Secretary said.

The Secretary acknowledged the low number of registrants during the first few weeks but said that after the government had boosted its information drive, the number of registrants increased dramatically.

The Secretary said that the government had learned valuable lessons during this registration period and that “we must gather the wisdom gained in this endeavor, to ensure that the 2004 elections go smoothly for overseas absentee voters and that future electoral activities are even more successful.”  The Secretary said that he has instructed all foreign service posts to give their assessments and insights on the overseas absentee voters registration.

“COMELEC will process the registration documents and come up with a list of absentee voters by November 2003 and a final list by January 2004.  We will receive the ballots by February 2004 and send these to our posts under the protective cover of our diplomatic pouches,” the Secretary said.

“I would like to thank COMELEC for its great cooperation in this important and demanding undertaking.  I would also like to congratulate the Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat for their hard work and determination,” the Secretary said.

“Lastly, I would like to commend our foreign service posts for their commitment to duty.  They actively sought to encourage our overseas Filipinos to vote, kept late hours and worked on weekends, and, in many instances, and where allowed by the host countries, brought the registration to Filipinos, through remote registration centers,” the Secretary added.

“The registration process has been carried out with the utmost regard for the sanctity of the election process and with the highest consideration being given to the right of overseas Filipinos to vote.  It has been carried out in a professional manner and is imbued with integrity and credibility,” the Secretary said.