Aquino, Roxas and Drilon lead OAV tally

The Department of Foreign Affairs-Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat (DFA-OAVS) which supervised and oversaw the conduct of voting by Filipinos living and working abroad has submitted to the Commission on Elections the results of its counting and canvassing of votes.

The results are contained in the certificates of canvass and election returns which the DFA has turned over to the Comelec.

Only about 153,300 Filipinos cast their votes via OAV, said the DFA. This is a small fraction of the estimated 10 million overseas Filipinos.

Only Hong Kong and Singapore held automated elections. In most other countries, voting was through personal voting at precincts or through postal voting.

The DFA announced this tally today:

President

• Noynoy Aquino 68,281 votes
• Bro. Eddie Villanueva 17,702
• Manny Villar 14,974
• Gibo Teodoro 11,505 votes
• Joseph Estrada 6,653
• Dick Gordon 5,496
• JC delos Reyes 196
• Jamby Madrigal 196
• Nick Perlas 178
• Vetellano Acosta 128

Vice President

• Mar Roxas 67,395
• Loren Legarda 17,136
• Jojo Binay 16,395
• Jun Yasay 12,011
• Bayani Fernando 7,933
• Edu Manzano 2,462
• Jay Sonza 645
• Jun Chipeco 183

Senators

1. Frank Drilon 72,319
2. Miriam Defensor Santiago 70,404
3. Bong Revilla 59,606
4. Pia Cayetano 55,206
5. Ralph Recto 54,741
6. Jinggoy Estrada 53,477
7. Juan Ponce Enrile 52,317
8. Bongbong Marcos 48,038
9. TG Guingona 45,245
10. Tito Sotto 43,820
11. Serge Osmena 43,576
12. Sonia Roco 37,801

Hong Kong

For President
Noynoy Aquino 19,606 votes
Eddie Villanueva 8,327
Manuel Villar 5,622 votes.
Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (2,556)
Joseph Estrada 1,980
Richard Gordon 945
Vetellano Acosta (58)
Jamby Madrigal 30
John Carlos delos Reyes 26
Nicanor Perlas 20

For Vice President
Mar Roxas 19,837 votes
Loren Legarda 6,885
Perfecto Yasay 6,353
Jejomar Binay 4,083
Bayani Fernando 998
Eduardo Manzano 639
Jose Sonza 103
Dominador Chipeco 20

1. Bong Revilla 22,020
2. Ralph Recto 20,495
3. Franklin Drilon 19,982
4. Jinggoy Estrada 19,946
5. Miriam Defensor-Santiago 19,739
6. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 18,555
7. Juan Ponce Enrile 16,479
8. Vicente Sotto III 14,262
9. Pilar Juliana Cayetano 13,817
10. Serge Osmena III 11,690
11. Jose de Venecia III 11,263
12. Teofisto Guingona III (10,853).

The DFA said that only 39,383 out of 95,355 voters cast their ballots in 96 clustered precincts.

Singapore

Noynoy Aquino 4,949 votes
Manuel Villar 1,314
Richard Gordon 1,105
Gilbert Teodoro Jr. 1,024
Eddie Villanueva 711
Joseph Estrada 345
Jamby Madrigal 19
Nicanor Perlas 19
Vetellano Acosta 17
JC Delos Reyes 12

For Vice President
Mar Roxas 5,017 votes
Loren Legarda 1,617
Bayani Fernando 1,060
Jejomar Binay 1,056
Perfecto Yasay 386
Eduardo Manzano 247
Jose Sonza 71
Dominador Chipeco 15

For Senators:
1. Ralph Recto 5,651
2. Miriam Defensor-Santiago 5,534
3. Franklin Drilon 5,472
4. Pilar Juliana Cayetano 4,394
5. Bong Revilla 4,373
6. Sergio Osmena III 4,085
7. Ferdinand Marcos III 3,906
8. Juan Ponce Enrile 3,899
9. Teofisto Guingona III 3,825
10. Vicente Sotto III 3,711
11. Jinggoy Estrada 3,120
12. Sonia Roco tied with Jose de Venecia III 2,679

Turnout in Singapore is lower: Only 9,588 out of 31,851 cast their ballots in 32 clustered precincts, said the DFA

An OFW lane at the NAIA. Photo grabbed from Its Possible at aaronautics.wordpress.com.

“The Philippines is a great country, and great heritage and great people, it should need a great leader as well,” said by my foreigner friend across the table while we are having potluck party one time.

We all agree that we are in dire need of a true leader – one who is brave enough to walk the lonely roads of principle-centered leadership; one who will do the right thing even the rest of the media and the elite don’t agree. What we differ from is who we perceive can best lead us and our country into liberty, security and stability. Freedom from poverty, peace and security, that eventually leads to economic stability.

For this election, I’m voting for pro-OFW Manny Villar.

Here are my reasons why:

1. He is the only presidential candidate I know who continuously helps OFWs who are in dire needs (and we are a-plenty!). At one time, more than 80 Filipino Overseas contract workers have returned home through his effort. He even gave houses to OFW’s for free. There might be motive behind his actions, but to help in one way or another, especially if others are in distress is still considered kindness. You can disagree to that.
2. Why other candidates are not thrown with muddy attacks? Kapag hitik daw at mabunga ang manga, pinupukol. Some people asked why Manny Villar have many issues to confront, well, maybe because he has done so much and others doesn’t like it. And why others are perceived to be saintly? Perhaps because they didn’t take any risks at all. Perhaps because they have done nothing substantial.

   It’s like a guy who play videos in his room all the day and to another guy who walk down the streets and helped an old woman cross the road, and indeed up scorned, cursed and spit out along the way for causing a halt to an already slow moving traffic. But the guy knows it is the right thing to do. It is by risking that we learn our lessons, gain experiences, succeed and feel better about ourselves.

3. Because he is a billionaire and spends way above others, people assume he will recoup his expenses when he wins. So what about Manny Pacquiao? Do you think he too along with his billions will steal from government’s money? Manny Pacquiao said he is hurt by those accusations.
   How much is Villar worth? $530 Million? P24 Billion? They said you will need a billion pesos to run as Philippine president. It is really that expensive to run for president in a country? Manny Villar said from a report of PCIJ.
   “That depends, because if you’re an artista or you have a sibling who is one, or you’re supported by a studio or a TV station, you won’t really be able to say how much you need,” said Villar. “Now if you’re not an artista, you’re just one of the poor and no one recognizes your family name, maybe you would need to spend more to make yourself known. But what’s important is that you don’t violate any laws.”
4. He comes on his own name. He didn’t ride along with any names associated with him. A shrimp vendor, sand and gravel businessman, and later a housing magnate, all by himself.
5. I believe he is the most prepared presidentiable of all, ready to lead the country having served as congressman, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and President of the Senate. For the last 18 years, he was serving the country. I don’t know if other presidentiables have the same experience like his. We need a president that can lead, and manage, and can create jobs and make our country competitive. I believe no one has the capability to do that except Manny Villar.
6. His values and management system, plus the way he treat his employees and staff is very important. He thought every one is a part of a team. No one should be left out. From the many testimonies, and the many people I know, he has values, and he live them, and his management style was so effective that people who work with him stays with him. He is one of those few who are excellent in both politics and business.
7. He is a family man, with kids who have manners, and the way I see it, he and Cong. Cynthia Villar, his wife, raise them well.
8. He knows defeat. Talking to his employees one time, Manny Villar says, “Kung sakaling manalo ako, most likely hindi ninyo ako makikita muna dito. Pero ok lang, kung matalo ako, mas madalas tayong magkikita-kita. Kung sakaling maaga pa pero malaki na talaga ang lamang, magcoconcede na agad ako. Tatanggapin ko agad ang pagkatalo ko.” What about his rival? Pag matalo daw sila, pupunta sila sa EDSA!

Remember that people can see the same thing but with a different perspective. This is how I see it. I hope we will see the same for our country too. There are just too much lies and negativity around him, all over the internet. People simply post or express anything without even the gut to verify or find out the truth. I have been carefully following stories and news for the last 6 months.

As the debate rages and as election abroad started, I have to make a stand. Others may not like it; I may offend some of my friends. But this is my personal stand, and I am not paid for doing this, I am not carried away by the stream of current, or swayed by the strong wind. I am voting for pro-OFW Manny Villar.

Overseas Filipino workers arriving home in Manila. Photo grabbed from jonie.net.

An OFW organization in the Middle East has come out with suggestions on how to improve turnout in the overseas absentee voting (OAV).

“There is still time remaining for the COMELEC Committee on OAV (COAV) and the various RP posts to find pro-active and doable ways and means to increase OAV turnout,” said Migrante-Middle East regional director John Leonard Monterona.

Monterona said the COMELEC-COAV should seriously consider starting mobile voting by setting-up polling precincts via ‘Embassy on Wheels’ program reach registered overseas voters who are far away from the Philippine embassies and consulates.

This is especially crucial in areas such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait  OFWs are spread out away from the embassies and consulates, said Monterona.

Citing figures released by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Monterona said that turnout in Saudi Arabia has been dismal: In Riyadh, only 2,639 have cast their votes or five percent of the 52,869 registered voters there; Turnout is lower in Jeddah where only 1,646 voters (four percent turnout) have found time to go to the consulate.

The highest OAV turnouts have been recorded in Hong Kong and Singapore, which have miniscule land areas compared to others and where the automated election system is being used.

Monterona pointed out that a number of Filipinos have to travel for a whole day to reach the Riyadh embassy or the Jeddah consulate to register before or to vote until May 10.  “We told the COMELEC and the DFA about this during the registration period.”

“The distance and the travel expense are hindrances for OFWs,” said Monterona.

In very faraway areas, the DFA and the COMELEC should maximize postal voting,” he said.

The figure represents about 4.9 percent of the 589,830 registered Filipino voters abroad.

In a statement released by the DFA, DFA Undersecretary and OAVS Chairperson Rafael E. Seguis said:

The first week of OAV went well and without major hitches.

We are encouraging registered overseas absentee voters to exercise their hard-earned right of suffrage, so they can be involved in deciding who will compose our next set of national leaders come July. We also urge them to vote now, in order to avoid last minute queues at the polling places.

Seguis also said that the OAVS Support Center at the DFA, under the guidance of OAVS Vice Chairperson Nestor Padalhin, is operating round-the-clock for the duration of the national elections.

OAV started April 10 and will end on May 10. Depending on the country, Filipino voters abroad may vote using the automated election system, via postal ballot and by personally casting their vote in any of the 93 Philippine embassies and consulates worldwide.

Filipino seafarers pose for a photo. (Photo grabbed from notredameshipping.com)

Yes, folks, a measly 10 seafarers have so far cast their votes as of April 11, according to the Commission on Elections.

Of the 10, four votes on April 10, the first day of overseas absentee voting.

Check out the list at the Comelec website.

The DFA is overseeing OAV in 93 foreign posts.

4,141 overseas Filipinos have so far cast their votes in the overseas absentee voting in 93 embassies and consulates of the Philippines, according to a report by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The number is still very low. It is just 0.7 percent of a total of 589,830 registered overseas absentee voters for the May 2010 elections.

Overseas absentee voters may vote for president, vice president, 12 senators and one partylist representative.

In a statement, the DFA bared the list of top ten foreign posts in terms of the number of overseas absentee voters who have cast their votes either through postal ballots, personal voting or through automated voting. The latter is available only in Singapore and Hong Kong.

589,830 overseas Filipinos are registered for the overseas absentee voting, said the DFA.

Citing a report from the Philippine consulate-general in Hong Kong, the DFA statement said that about 1,000 overseas voters already cast their ballots in the former British colony.

The DFA identified the first voter in Hong Kong as domestic helper Rowena dela Cruz who camped out in the Bayanihan Center since Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the first voter in Singapore was Lydia Deligente, who the DFA said “commented that the automated mode of voting was much easier compared to the manual mode she used during the 2004 elections”.

Hong Kong and Singapore are the only places where automated elections are being held.

The site of automated overseas absentee voting in Hong Kong. Photo grabbed from Wikipedia.

Hours after the Philippines first overseas automated elections opened in Hong Kong, partylist group Gabriela Women’s Party reported “harassment and intimidation as well as major glitches” which it said could “seriously hamper” the conduct of the overseas absentee voting there until May 10.

Cynthia Abdon-Tellez said in a statement that “more names were discovered to have been deleted or were not at all included in the Certified List of Overseas Absentee Voters (CLOAV)”.

As of last week, Abdon-Tellez said at least 140 names of OFWs have been excluded or delisted without cause.

“There were also voters today who went to Bayanihan fully expecting to be able to vote as they have also voted in 2004 or 2007 but were turned back because they were not in the CLOAV,” she said.

More OFWs, especially domestic workers on their weekend day-off, are expected to troop on Sonday to Hong Kong’s Bayanihan Center, the official site chosen by the Commission on Elections and the Philippine consulate-general for the OAV there.

Abdon-Tellez also assailed the Comelec for the “last minute reconfiguration of precincts” which required OFWs to again check their names, sequence and precinct numbers in the CLOAV.

Abdon-Tellez likewise scored Vice Consul Joy Banagodos, a member of the OAV Secretariat, for harassing Gabriela members and supporters for leafleting and hanging banners outside Bayanihan Center, which is considered not covered by Philippine law.

“Since 2004, this issue has already been decided on by the Comelec and it has always been clear that since the outside of the Bayanihan Kennedy Town Centre is no longer the jurisdiction of the Philippines, leafleting and banners cannot be prohibited. Such was also affirmed by Consul General Claro Cristobal in a meeting last April 6,” she explained.

The posters state the voting centers for the two areas: Bayanihan Center at 55 Victoria Road, Kennedy Town in Hongkong; and the Philippine Embassy at 20 Naasim Road in Singapore.

Here is the poster for Hong Kong:

Here meanwhile is the version for Singapore:

The Comelec also released flyers, streamers and pamphlets bearing the same design and elements.

It also released Nick’s comics also for overseas absentee voters.