Senator Santiago visiting Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa last November. Photo: Facebook

Senator Santiago will assume her position as one of the judges on March 2012. Her election can be described as overwhelming for she got 79 of the 104 votes in the first round of voting.

EU Ambassador to Manila Guy Leroux has described Senator Santiago’s election as a “strong signal that the Philippines is a strong player in the fight of improving human rights”.

Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Senator Santiago’s ICC election: “The resounding manner by which Senator Santiago was elected, having topped the first round of the election with 79 of 104 votes, highlights her outstanding qualifications and qualities of leadership. As a former trial court judge and being an expert in international law, Senator Santiago is much qualified for the position… As a fellow Filipino and a colleague in the Senate, I take pride in her achievements. This remarkable feat is likewise brings honour to our nation. I am confident that you will bring to the ICC an inspired contribution to its work with the view to serving the global cause to end impunity with perpetrators of the most serious crimes of international concern.”

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario commented: “Senator Santiago has shown competence and commitment in defense of the rule of law. She has demonstrated her intelligence and legal acumen through her decisions that heve been cited by the Philippine Supreme court. She has shown independence and integrity in her actions. She is more qualified for the position.”

Born in Iloilo City 1945, Senator Santiago is the eldest of seven children of Benjamin Defensor, district trial judge and Dimpna, a college dean. From elementary to high school she graduated as valedictorian, finished Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from UP Visayas and then took up law in UP Diliman where she was the Editor of the Philippine Law Journal and councilor in the University Student Council in her freshman year. Senator Santiago was the first female Editor of the Philippine Collegian.

For her excellence in student leadership she was twice awarded the Vinzons Achievement Award and graduated Bachelor of Laws, cum laude, UP Diliman.

Senator Santiago won DeWitt Fellowship at the University of Michigan where she finished her Master of Laws after a year, Doctor of Jurisprudence after six months and pursued post-doctoral studies in law at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, University of California at Berkley and Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She then went to the Hague Academy of Public International Law Netherlands and to Sophia University, Japan. From Maryhill School of Theology in Manila she earned a Master of Arts in Religious Studies.

For government positions, Senator Santiago was Regional Trial Judge of Quezon City in 1983-87, Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation in 1988-89, Secretary of Agrarian Reform from 1989-1991. Then in 1992, she ran for President of the Philippines but lost to former President Fidel V. Ramos. In 1995, under her own People’s Reform Party she ran for Senator, and got elected for 1995 -2001, second term 2004 -2010, and again won in 2010.

In 1988, she received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in Government Service in recognition for her service to several government positions.

Married to former Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Narciso Y. Santiago Jr., the Senator has two sons, Narciso III and the late Alexander Robert.

The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal created under the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court signed by 120 countries which is tasked to prosecute and try individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and starting in 2017, for crime of aggression. Its headquarters is in Hague,

Netherlands and independent from the United Nations (UN) though it has a self-imposed task of handling cases referred to it by the UN Security Council. ICC must not be confused with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) within the UN whose function is to try cases between state members.

MABUHAY and best wishes to Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.

Iglesia Ni Cristo youth in Australia are joining forces with their counterparts in other countries to put smiles on the faces of senior citizens through “Share the Gift of Music”, an initiative of the INCGiving Project launched this month across the globe.

The new initiative follows the recent INCGiving Project’s Neighbourhood Appreciation Day where the inaugural event in Australia was staged at the INC’s chapel grounds in Minchinbury, New South Wales.

Performers from the young to the “young at heart” will visit selected sites in their localities and entertain the residents and staff of assisted living and skilled nursing homes with music.

“Through INCGiving initiatives such as this one, we hope to help in making local communities a happier place for all its residents, especially, the elderly,” said Ranniel Serreno, INC district minister of Australia-Oceania.

More than 20 INC congregations and regional extensions in Australia are scheduled to “share the gift of music” in their respective localities.

In Metro Sydney, INC youth will visit five sites this weekend and two a fortnight after.

This weekend’s visits are being staged coincidentally with the kick off of NSW Grandparents Day.

The New South Wales government announced last month that this Sunday October 30 and every last Sunday of October will be designated as NSW Grandparents Day to recognise the ‘invaluable role’ of grandparents in families.

The sites to be visited by INC youth in Metro Sydney are Doonside Aged Care Centre (October 29), Huntingdon Gardens in Bexley (October 29), Governor Phillip Nursing Home in Penrith (October 29), Croydon Park RSL Club (October 30), Forestview Nursing Home in Chatswood (October 30), Manchester Unity in North Parramatta (November 12), and Gladstone House in Burwood (November 13).

The Filipino Australian has also gathered that the visit of INC youth to grandparents in Croydon Park is part of the program of NSW Grandparents Day’s first ambassador Ms Barbara Holborow.

In an interview, Ms Holborow said that Croydon Park is her natural choice as she has lived in the area since her childhood days, adding that she wanted to make the grandparents and elderly in the area know that they are remembered.

Ms Holborow is a recipient of a Medal of the Order of Australia and is previously a Children’s Court Magistrate for many years. She gave up her career on the Bench to devote her life to helping children and assisting those who care for them.

Ms Holborow said that she is looking forward to an enjoyable afternoon this Sunday with the grandparents and their grandchildren, and to listening to the INC youth music.

Amb. Harry K Thomas // US State Dept

The recommendation draws from a Forum held last October 10 on the recent controversy resulting from the remarks of Thomas that 40% of male visitors to the Philippines come for sexual gratification.

The Forum on “Ambassador Thomas – What Next?” was held at the Intramuros Restaurant, South San Francisco.

PAPC encompasses Filipino-American media and practitioners in the United States. GFN is an international organization of global Filipino leaders and organizations in 30 countries, including the United States and the Philippines, committed to “Building the Global Filipino Nation for Good Governance”.

The Forum participants acknowledged the role of Ambassador Thomas of reminding the country of the human trafficking issue.

GFN and PAPC noted that” “The country has uncontestable affliction with the social evils of prostitution and pedophile behavior. No society is immune from these ills that flesh is heir to.”

GFN and PAPC urged the government to take proactive steps in questioning and apprehending violators of the law. The groups recommended renewed instructions and training for agents of the law and citizens’ participation by way of reportorial action.

Forum participants noted that Ambassador Thomas committed grave blunders when he uttered two assertive falsehoods: the first was the baseless reference to the statistical incidence of sexual motivation among male foreign visitors, the second being his escape excuse of indicating that his source was the Dept. of Justice – which was officially denied.

GFN and PAPC noted that: “The percentage cited is inconsequential. What was unsettling and incomprehensible is the fact that, for a senior and highly educated diplomat, he had no informed basis for supporting his affirmation.”

There was grave concern on the impact on the image of the country, the self-esteem and self-image of Filipinos, especially the youth and children, GFN and PAPC added.

While Thomas informally texted his apology to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, GFN and PAPC noted that ceases to be an effective Ambassador to the Philippines. The groups said that; “An Ambassador must be credible, trustworthy and congenial.”

GFN and PAPC added that: “Ambassador Thomas remains unquestionably a competent diplomat. But given the environment now surrounding his office, his reassignment would best serve Philippine and US interests.”

In an email to The Filipino Australian, Global Filipino Nation reported that the Philippine Commission on Elections is targetting at least one million registered overseas voters by October 31 next year.

Logo: Comelec Overseas Absentee Voting website

The registration target, according to GFN, was disclosed in a Comelec forum held last October 5 with community leaders at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, California.

GFN also reported that during the forum, actions on how to attract more registrants had been brought forward and/or agreed including amendment of the Overseas Absentee Voting Law authorising Internet Voter Registration and Voting, and removal of the Affidavit to Return requirement.

In earlier news reports on this website, Comelec Commissioner Armando C. Velasco in a meeting with GFN convenors announced that ‘Comelec supports the goal of global Filipinos to deepen their participation’ in Philippine national election by initiating a “suffrage broadening program” which includes a range of initiatives to encourage more overseas absentee voters registration.

Below is the latest report of Global Filipino Nation:

The Commission on Elections aims to have at least one million registered overseas voters at the end of the current registration period slated to start on October 31, 2011 and end on October 31, 2012, reported Global Filipino Nation to this website via email.

Comelec disclosed this registration target in the first leg of its US voter registration push held on October 5, 2011 at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco.

Consultative Forum

Commissioners Lucenito N. Tagle and Christian Robert Lim met with community leaders together with Consul- General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. Comelec officials, responding to feedback from the community, also announced initiatives that would address the issues surrounding registration and voting, in the hope that suffrage participation will be enhanced.

Among the organizations represented in the Forum were: Global Filipino Nation (GFN), Philippine-American Press Club (PAPC) and US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG). GFN and PAPC officials included:

Barrios, Aida (GFN Convenor & PAPC Director/Treasurer)
Barrios, Victor S. (GFN Convenor)
Chavez, Ester (GFN Convenor & PAPC President)
Chavez, Mandy (PAPC member)
Ignacio, Johannes (GFN Convenor)
Villegas, Antonio Jr. (GFN Convenor & PAPC Director)

Representing USP4GG was Rodel Rodis, President.

Issues and Suggested Comelec Action

The Consul-General and Comelec highlighted the different factors that tended to impede a steady and significant flow of registrants. Comelec outlined its action program to redress the impeding factors.

Community leaders focused on three major impeding elements that account for the relatively low turnout for registration and voting: 1) the extraordinary burden posed by the requirement of physical presence at the nearest Consulate; 2) the intimidating effect of requiring registrants to sign the Affidavit to Return within 3 years from registration; and 3) interruptions in the Continuing Voter Registration process.

Requiring the physical presence in the nearest Consulate entails heavy demands on the voter in terms of time and money – which many cannot afford. For example: it was pointed out that the San Francisco Consulate General covers 10 states, including Alaska. It takes the whole day to complete door-to-door air travel, similar time for the return flight and additional time to drive to and from the Consulate. The time lost plus the wages or vacation leave foregone constitute an unreasonable or insurmountable burden. This hurdle is replicated in many other areas where the nearest Consulate is a great distance from many OFWs, especially in Saudi Arabia with a 1.8 million Filipino population unofficially estimated by recruitment agencies.

Comelec officials expressed complete support to provisions imbedded in bills to amend the Overseas Absentee Voting Law authorizing Internet Voter Registration and Voting. In addition to addressing burdens imposed by physical presence at Consulates, it was recognized that the IT solution would also address other operational problems in administering the OAV Law, such as changes in address of registrants.

The Forum participants, including the Comelec officials, echoed the intimidating effect of immigrant voter registrants posed by the Affidavit to Return. It was pointed out that legislators concerned are unanimous in their intent to eliminate the Affidavit requirement. Senate Bill 3565 and House Bill 2301 provide for the deletion of the Affidavit requirement.

The USP4GG officer brought out the possibility that Comelec could, without waiting for legislative action, declare the affidavit requirement unconstitutional on the basis of the principle of equal protection under the Constitution. It was reasoned out that if dual citizens may register and vote without having to sign the Affidavit, immigrants have similar rights.

Comelec officials suggested to the USP4GG officer that a suit be filed against Comelec challenging the constitutionality of the Affidavit provision. That action would trigger a subsequent Supreme Court definitive action.

The Forum also brought out the legal opinion of Alberto C. Agra, former Secretary of Justice and Counsel of Global Filipino Nation, to the effect that Filipino immigrants abroad comply with the affidavit to return by demonstrating their intent to do so in a variety of acts, activities and utterances (see attached legal opinion). These ways include: signing the affidavit itself; ownership or lease of property; business operations; paying any form of tax; regular remittances to families; being a registered voter; statements in various documents; and others.

It was requested that the Comelec En banc act on the pending request of GFN to allow the availability of copies of the Agra Opinion at the voter registration places to address the possible hesitancy of immigrants from filing voter registration papers. The availability of the Agra Opinion does not imply an endorsement by the Comelec. The Comelec Commissioners at the Forum indicated that they would take up the suggestion with the Comelec En Banc.

Finally, the Forum participants requested for ongoing, uninterrupted Voter Registration as a means for further enlarging the list of overseas voters – even far more than the current target of one million. It was argued that genuinely Continued Voter Registration involves uninterrupted voter registration with Philippine Consulates abroad. There could still be a cut-off for determining eligibility to vote for a given national election. Those who miss the deadline for the cut-off date will be eligible to vote in the subsequent elections.

Section 7 of R.A. 9189 provides for Continued Voter Registration to optimize the use of existing resources. While Sec. 13 stipulates that the Certified List of Overseas Absentee Voters be prepared 120 days prior to every election, nowhere in the law is there an indication that the registration process should stop. Consulates already have the staff, equipment and willingness to handle uninterrupted voter registration. They have staff complement who regularly handles dual citizenship applications.

The Comelec Commissioners conveyed to the Forum participants that they found the proposal for ongoing voter registration sensible. The GFN Convenors indicated that there is a pending request for this arrangement with the Comelec En Banc.

Global Filipino Nation is an international organization of global Filipino leaders and organizations committed to “Building the Global Filipino Nation for Good Governance”.

International observers in last Philippine national elections. L-R: Romy Cayabyab (Australia), Victor Barrios (United States), Jun Aguilar (Philippines) and Ted Aquino (United States)

The GFN statement added: “The TRO strikes a blow to the implementation of RA 10153, the law synchronizing the ARMM and 2013 elections. There will be no OICs for the region.”

The GFN statement was issued in light of the SC’s order issued Tuesday September 13 which blocked Malacañang from appointing officers-in-charge of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The ARMM election as mandated by RA 9054 was scheduled last month but was cancelled by RA 10153 in order for the ARMM elections to be synchronised with the 2013 polls.

RA 10153 also provides for the appointment of officers in charge for the regional governor, vice governor, and members of the regional legislative assembly.

According to reports, the TRO was issued by the high court en banc on a 8-4 vote. The order was effective as from date of issue and would be enforced “until lifted”.

Given the SC order, the ARMM incumbents whose office expires on September 30 will remain in their position until their successors are duly elected or are qualified by the Supreme Court as provided for by RA 9054, ARMM’s organic law.

The temporary restraining order was issued as the Supreme Court has yet to decide with finality on the petitions questioning the constitutionality of RA 10153.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal and ex-senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. were among the parties that questioned the constitutionality of RA 10153.

According to a recent statement by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), remittances from overseas Filipinos amounted to $9.63 billion in the first six months of the year, up 6.3 percent year-on-year.

The OFWs do not only support their country’s economic health but they also provide essential services in various fields they work everywhere in the world. They undergo a lot of sacrifices and hardships, not to mention the homesickness they have to bear. The degree of these hardships must have been thousand-fold for the pioneer OFWS, the courageous nomadic Filipinos of yesteryears.

Without the aid of modern machinery and technology, the pioneer OFWs toiled in pineapple and fruit orchards, construction of infrastructure, monotonous and brain numbing assembly lines in factories, fish canneries. In contrast to the modern OFWs who have access to telephones, emails and video chats, the pioneer OFWs had to bear the long periods of not being able to communicate with their loved ones. The pioneer OFWs also had to live in accommodation without the luxury of heating and air-conditioning.

At the background - an old cottage, now a museum (click image)

In a cruise in Alaska my husband and I recently took, the first stop was Ketchikan, Alaska’s salmon capital. Here, I came to know about the original Alaskan OFWs who worked in salmon canneries and who were fondly referred to as the “Alaskeros”. We toured a cannery which was no longer used for production but is now a museum where machinery still in working condition demonstrates the arduous canning process. A short film was screened in a theatrette showing how work was done in the olden days.

It was heartening to hear that Filipino workers are being acknowledged as part of the workforce which contributed to the successful operations in the canneries. At the same time, it was touching to see the wooden cottage – sans heaters and other conveniences – they shared with the Chinese and other non-Caucasian workers. The narrator in the film also mentioned that to help cope with boredom, loneliness and the cold, some turned to rum and opium.

Tribute to Pioneer OFWs

A marker to the memory of pioneering OFWs (click image)

The next port of call was at Juneau, Alaska’s capital city since 1906. Juneau’s natural beauty is breathtaking, with the snow-capped mountains, deep-blue body of water surrounding it, and with its school of frolicking whales and seals, oblivious to the parade of cruise ships. It is known to be Alaska’s cruise-ship capital and the gateway to attractions including the Glacier Bay National Park.

I think I must have fallen in love with Juneau. But, I must say though these are not the only reasons why I left my heart in Juneau.

In Juneau, I felt proud to see a two-storey hall dedicated to the brave spirits of pioneering Alaskeros and which today serves as a multi-purpose centre in Juneau’s busy business district.

A plaza called Manila Square (click image)

I bumped into a kababayan, who works in the city government. She was proud to tell me that of the 30,000 population of Jeneau, there was an estimated 6,000 Filipino-Americans. In a place which is very far from the Philippines, 20 percent resident population of Philippine origin is quite large.

It was also heart-warming to see a park across the MPC-like hall was dedicated as a the ‘Manila Square’. In the heart of this park, a bust of the Philippine National Hero, Dr Jose Rizal, sits on top of a stone pedestal. Underneath the pedestal, is a plaque which pays tribute to the Filipinos’ contributions to the city from the mid 1920s to the present time.

Marker to recognise the pioneering Alaskeros (click image)

It highlighted that: “The first Filipino community in Juneau was organized in 1929. It was later incorporated under territorial law on Feb. 1, 1956…”

A number of shops either owned or operated by Filipino-Americans line up the business district.

I bought some souvenir jewellery from a Filipino-owned shop and also had a look around in another shop which was next-door to a beauty parlour operated by another kababayan; these were located alongside the ‘MPC’. There was also an eatery called the Manila Grill.

I was proud and happy for these kababayans who are doing well in the land they now call ‘home’

Manila Grill and others in Juneau's business district

Next: My Juneau in Sydney’s vision of a Philippine cultural centre

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Violi Calvert is a free lance writer; Media & PR of the Australian Handball Federation (www.handballaustralia.org.au); Media & PR of the Nenad Bach Music (Australia & Asia – www.nenadbachband.com)

Our lawyers are very adept at prolonging the judicial processes of cases that seem patently indefensible and desperately irredeemable.

The situation works out well for both client and lawyer as the freedom of the client is temporarily enjoyed prior to judgment of the case (which goes on for long indefinite periods) and the lawyer’s fees continue for as long as the case is still unresolved.

Continue reading…

Iglesia Ni Cristo Executive Minister Bro Eduardo Manalo (left) and Hanwha E&C vice chairman Kim Hyun-chung shake hands after the groundbreaking ceremony near Manila August 17. Photo: Hanwha E&C / Korea Herald

A Korean construction company started work last Thursday (August 18) to build in Bocaue, Bulacan a domed arena fitted with 50,000 seats and nearly 36,000 square metres domed roof, reported online news Korea Herald. Video – Ground breaking ceremony

The Korea Herald report, written by Choi He-suk, said the company, Hanwha Engineering and Construction Corp., signed last August 4 an agreement with project owner, Iglesia Ni Cristo. Representing their respective organisations were Hanwha E&C vice chairman Kim Hyun-chung and chief of Iglesia Ni Cristo Bro Eduardo Manalo.

The contract value of the project is placed at US$175 million, and work will be carried out over 30 months, Korea Herald said, adding that with its size, Hanwha E&C considers the structure, named Philippine Arena, to be the world’s largest domed arena.

The new domed arena’s 50,000 seating capacity will eclipse Araneta Coliseum’s 16,500 seats and Acer Arena’s (formerly Sydney SuperDome) 17,500 seats.

To date, Araneta Coliseum is considered the largest domed arena in Southeast Asia.

The recent report of successive slayings in Abra during the past weeks have gone on circulation in the net, especially amongst online discussion groups, and spurred a frantic alarm to Abrenians around the globe.

The alarm is an echo of the pent up outcry of the rural folks for peace in the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

Will you visit Abra? // Image: Screenshot of Abra Website

The new national government appears to be blindsided and not listening, more focused on the current rage for infighting, posturing and whistle-blowing amongst rival parties scrambling for positions of power under the new administration.

One cannot understand the national government’s apparent apathy towards the plight of the region. The region’s population of more than 1.5 million may only be the size of that of the City of Manila, yet it could be a a power base with its 6 provinces, 2 cities, 75 municipalities, 1176 barangays, and 7 congressional districts.

The new regime’s disregard of the immediate needs of the region is tragically penalizing an innocent, neglected citizenry, observed one legal mind in an online discussion group.

Indeed, the cry of the Cordillera people is the exhausted gasp of grassroots teetering in the brink of self-destruction!

With peace and order situation in shambles, it may not be long before the common folks in the region are reduced to the mercy of basic survival elements.

”I don’t feel like going home,” one terrified overseas Filipino worker replied to a plea from her immediate family for her to visit.

Weary rural and local residents shirk at the current state of peace in Abra which has gone under the ‘law of the gun.’ Private armies of rival parties are on the prowl, muscling their presence for territorial dominance.

The mood, to many, has become a re-enactment of their grandparents’ recollection of World War II situations when the town went under the occupying enemy force.

Like civilian captives of an armed conflict, the local residents of the province are an unwilling collateral-on-standby, or shields and pawns in the war games between bitter feuds.

But the populace is left to their own desperate cares, and the local law enforcers to their own devices while there is no sign of higher government attention or intervention in sight.

Callous regard for life is summed up in the indiscriminate slayings of ordinary townspeople and this continues to sow and fuel insidious fears.

Shattered nerves have spiked to near saturation point and have spread like wildfire amongst the people.

Terror is magnified in their not knowing whether they will be caught in political cross fires, or baits of private armies that are hot in pursuit of chest-beating banditry.

A few civic oriented residents who have access to computers called out to relations and friends abroad to speak on their behalf.

In an unexpected cohesion of voices, the local people’s plea for solution from the national government is being echoed by Ilocanos and Abrenians living in other countries.

Abra, Cordilleras in online fora, SNS and telephony

The locals have found an ally in the use of the Internet and mobile phones for expressing their fears and for reaching out to their family members living outside the Philippines to warn them of the safety of the region.

The alarmed voices are all directed to the deteriorated peace and order in the province of Abra.

Uneasiness has built up and to date there seems to be no end in sight for the spate of indiscriminate killings that stemmed from the last Philippine national election.

The previous election’s bitter rivalries and vendettas continue to wreak havoc of fear and rock the region with slayings of ordinary hard-working citizens who are doing their usual routines or simply minding their own business.

Bernardo Bermudez of Agtangao (Bangued, Abra) and Nelson Dacuyag of Barangay Calaba (Bangued, Abra), traffic enforcer and tricycle driver, respectively, were gunned down on a midnight one Tuesday a couple of weeks ago.

And in a thread of discussion by a web based social network group of Abrenians and concerned Filipinos overseas, where fresh news are uploaded by relations and friends even before the local media gets to the scene for coverage, distraught announcements appeared on line the following day.

“Adda man natay idi rabiin!” (One more has just been killed again last night!) posted a commentator of an online discussion group in a thread.

Frantic comments have been flooding into discussion group sites of other Abrenians who have taken to Facebook and the cyberspace to connect with their families, relations and friends.

“God please stop these senseless killings in Abra!” posted another terrorized Abrenian living overseas following the slaying a few weeks ago of the Barangay Captain of Alawa, Tineg in a drive-by shooting by men in a motorcycle.

“Can we not wait for the point when we know that killing has ended because we are by then the ones to be buried?”, his post continued.

In its desperation to seek help from the powers that be, the plea was posted as a thread to one civic oriented discussion group.

It was directed to all and sundry, but before anyone could react or respond, another killing came on the news last week.

“August 2: Elpidio Buentipo was gunned down in Abualan, San Juan, Abra by an unknown suspect.”

And in a separate post – “A follower/bodyguard of Mayor Ryan Luna in the person of Danny Kio and a PNP ‘detailed’ to him, Officer Eric Bolante, had been fatally gunned down in two separate incidents.”

Oh please, when will peace come upon Abra and the Cordilleras?

Commissioner Armando C. Velasco made the announcement in a recent meeting with Convenors of the Global Filipino Nation (GFN), an international coalition of global Filipino leaders and organizations committed to “Building the Global Filipino Nation for Good Governance”.

Commissioner Velasco said: “Comelec supports the goal of global Filipinos to deepen their participation in the election of our national leaders”. He added that: “If one were to consider the dependents of overseas Filipinos who live in the Motherland, they would constitute a large proportion of our population”.

The areas covered by the suffrage broadening program for global Filipinos include legislation on Internet Voter Registration, Internet Voting and the removal of the Affidavit to Return executed by immigrant overseas voters. Doing away with the Affidavit to Return will resolve questions about the necessity of requiring overseas Filipinos to come home.

The GFN Convenors also proposed for Comelec to undertake truly continued, uninterrupted voter registration for global Filipinos. Such a continuing voter registration, in accordance with Section 7 of R.A. 9189, would stipulate a cutoff date for determining eligibility for voting in a given election.