19 January 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert today made the reassurance that all overseas Filipinos who had registered and who would be included in the final voters list would be able to vote and that their vote would be counted.

The Secretary also said that the Department would rely mainly on the personnel already at the different foreign service posts rather than send additional personnel from the Home Office.

“I would like to thank our overseas Filipinos and their different organizations for bringing to us their concern over the overseas absentee voting.  I would like to reassure all of them that the Department will be working closely with the COMELEC to ensure that those eligible to vote will be able to cast their vote and that their votes will be counted,” Secretary Albert said.

The Secretary said that adjustments have been made and are continuing to be made to prepare for the manual counting of votes, in the light of the decision of the Supreme Court nullifying the automated counting contract of the COMELEC.

“We continue to make the necessary adjustments.  The sanctity of the ballot will be maintained and we will do our best to count the votes as quickly as we can,” she added.

The Secretary also said that “we will rely on our personnel who are already at post.  They will work with the Filipino community.  We will avoid sending additional personnel to posts.“ “We value the advice that has been given to us by those who worked hard for the passage of the Overseas Absentee Voting Law and we will work with the resources that will be given to us and avoid all unnecessary expenses,” Secretary Albert added. END.