So The Public May Know
There are fraudulent stories circulating on Facebook and social media of instances whereby the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo had supposedly attempted to compel prospective voters for the 2016 National Elections to vote for a certain candidate. One allegation claims that the Embassy had supposedly denied voters registration for the 2016 National Elections, unless they are supporters of a certain candidate.
These baseless allegations appeared on Facebook last December 2015 and have resurfaced in recent weeks. The Philippine Embassy categorically denies these malicious claims. They are fabricated and have no basis. We wish to stress the following facts:
- Filipinos overseas have been given the opportunity to register for the 2016 elections for a period of 1 1/2 years. The period for the registration of voters ended in October 2015.
- The year-long registration period in Japan was duly announced and carried out by the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo with utmost neutrality. Field missions were also conducted in various prefectures to reach out to Filipinos residing outside Tokyo. This resulted in the registration of about 19,000 Filipino voters for the 2016 elections, many of whom will attest to the impartiality with which the Embassy conducted their registration.
Clearly, the allegations circulating on Facebook are false, malicious and defamatory, and are meant to malign the integrity of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo.
We at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo carefully abide by the neutrality required by law of our public officials as duly deputized representatives of the COMELEC overseas. We strictly refrain from publicly sharing our political views and we seriously take to heart the prohibition to campaign, support or endorse candidates for the 2016 National Elections.
The Embassy is prepared to face those who hurl these accusations. However, since these claims first appeared, none of the individuals making the allegations have come out of their social media anonymity to present evidence to substantiate their allegations. We challenge them to come forward. Otherwise, we will consider those persons who continue to circulate this deceitful account on Facebook or other social media platforms to be driven by malicious intent, and the Embassy is prepared to undertake all appropriate measures and remedies against them. – END –
