Philippine Embassy in Tokyo Welcomes Overseas Voters Registered in Dubai and Osaka
On 28 April, the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) in Tokyo welcomed Ms. Marilou Jinon Galpo as the first overseas voter who is registered in another country to cast her vote in Tokyo. The SBEI in Tokyo also welcomed Mr. Dominic Xavier M. Imperial as the first overseas voter who is registered in another precinct in the same country to cast his vote in Tokyo.
Marilou was an overseas Filipino worker in Dubai from 2010 to 2015. Last year, she registered as an overseas voter in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). In September 2015, she moved to Tokyo (Japan) to join her employer. In a telephone interview, Marilou expressed happiness that she was able to cast her vote despite her being not a registered voter in Tokyo. She said, “Tinatawagan ko ang ating mga kababayan na bumoto para sa pagbabago, pagsulong at pag-unlad ng ating bansa.”
Dax, as his friends call him, was a registered overseas voter in Osaka (Japan) and served as Chairman of SBEI in Osaka for the 2013 National Elections. In 2014, he moved to Tokyo (Japan) but was unable to transfer his voter registration from Osaka to Tokyo. Dax currently serves as Chairperson of the Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG) in Tokyo for the 2016 National Elections. He welcomed the COMELEC decision allowing registered overseas voters to vote where they are currently residing.
Both Marilou and Dax availed themselves of the COMELEC guidelines allowing registered overseas voters to vote where they are currently residing. They filed their respective Manifestations of Intent to Vote in Tokyo. They also presented identification cards to the SBEI as proof of their identities.
Meanwhile, a total of 3,630 votes have so far been cast in Tokyo as of 28 April 2016. The figure has surpassed the 3,058 highest voter turnout recorded in Tokyo for the 2004 National Elections.
For the 2016 National Elections, the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo is implementing the Automated Election System (AES) allowing the 19,230 registered overseas voters to cast their votes either by postal or personal voting. End.
