UAE registers 20% turnout in overseas Filipino voting

The historic overseas online voting, relative to the Philippines’ mid-term elections, ended quietly on May 12 (Monday) with 37,976 (20%) of the 189,892 registered voters across the UAE, able to exercise their right to suffrage, as enshrined in the Philippine Constitution since 2004.

Commission on Elections (Comelec)-accredited poll watchers and newsmen described the quietness of the April 11 to May 12 electoral process a “departure” from the usual zing that accompanied the 2004-2007-2010-2013-2016-2019-2022 alternating presidential/mid-term manual-to-automated elections.

More deafening became the quietness when the Comelec-accredited Special Board of Elections Inspectors (SBEI) at the Philippine Consulate General-Dubai, declared aloud the number of votes received by each of the 66 senatorial aspirants and the party-list representative – Duterte Youth – that amassed the highest number of votes at 6,654; after the election returns, totaling 24,742 (19.97%) of the 123, 891 registered voters in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah – were successfully electronically transmitted to the Comelec-designated Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC) at the Philippine Embassy-Abu Dhabi (AUHPE) at 5:31pm. That was two hours after a couple became the last to cast their respective votes at 3:30pm.

Two 17-year Dubai residents – Daisy Timcang from the banking & finance sector and Jacqueline Carino from the ICT industry – were among the last voters too, who sought assistance at the consular mission, albeit qualified Filipino voters in the UAE were among the Comelec-selected to participate at the pilot Internet Voting – being the largest out of the registered 1,241,690 overseas voters worldwide.

Timcang’s busy-ness almost made her neglect her civic duty until her daughter, 18, who had cast her vote reminded her: “I am here; or else, my campaigning throughout these months would be useless. I am happy I voted Straight 12. We only need patience because this is the first online voting and there may be glitches.” Carino came along with her primary school daughter. Or else, she would miss the opportunity which she had been looking forward to, since 2010. She expressed fears though of hacking. Melvin Geverola, a pollwatcher of the PDP-Laban political party of Vice President Sara Duterte, was satisfied with the queue and flow; even as delays occurred because of Internet interruptions. According to Consul General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates Marford Angeles, the three-member SBEI, assisted an average of 50 to 100 people daily at the designated Voting Kiosk: “Still, a big number thought they could register.”

Over at the AUHPE, 13,234 (20%) of the total 66,001 registered voters voted. A Facebook post bearing the election results in the UAE, shared at least twice, garnered unsavory remarks and comments. Some Filipinos in the UAE expressed “dismay.” One wrote: “Something not to be proud of.”

One termed as the UAE as a “DDS” (Diehard Duterte Supporters) bailiwick. Gulf Today obtained a copy of the “City Certificate of Canvass” from the “City of United Arab Emirates” located in the “Province of the Middle East and Africa” at 9:11pm on Monday. It bears the thumb marks of SBOC chairman/ Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ferdinand Ver, SBOC vice chairman/Philippine Embassy-Abu Dhabi (AUHPE) Head of Mission Arvic Arevalo, and SBOC member/AUHPE secretary Aileen Sharmaine Ducusin. Signatories are pollwatchers Dennis de Guia, Felamie Tamalosa and Jose Bugay. The Top 23 senatorial candidates: Bong Go, PDP-Laban, 25,459 (7.45%); Bato dela Rosa, PDP-Laban, 26,047 (7.06%); Rodante Marcoleta, Independent, 25,171 (6.83%); Jimmy Bondoc, PDP-Laban, 19,744 (5.35%); Atty. Vic Rodriguez, Independent, 18,432 (5%); Raul Lambino, PDP-Laban, 17,555 (4.76%); Jayvee Hinlo, PDP-Laban, 16,679 (4.52%); Philip Salvador, PDP-Laban, 13,886 (3.77%); Doc Marites Mata, Independent, 13,366 (3.63%); Apollo Quiboloy, Independent, 12,643 (3.43%); Gringo Honasan, People’s Reform Party, 12,562 (3.41%); Imee Marcos, Nacionalista Party, 10,937 (2.97%); Bam Aquino, Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino, 10,304 (2.79%); Ping Lacson, Independent, 10,182 (2.76%); Kiko Pangilinan, Liberal Party, 8,875 (2.41%); Camille Villar, NP, 8,512 (2.31%); Tito Sotto, Nationalist People’s Coalition, 8,400 (2.28%); Heidi Mendoza, Independent, 8,055 (2.18%); Doc Willie Ong, Aksyon, 7,926 (2.15%); Pia Cayetano, NP, 7,878 (2.14%); Erwin Tulfo, Lakas, 6,998 (1.90%); Colonel Bosita, Independent, 5,617 (1.52%); and Benhur Abalos, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, 5,409 (1.47%).