News Release
May 5, 2007
For reference: Maita Santiago, Spokesperson (0928-306-7278)
OFWs and their families can now monitor and report cases of electoral fraud and violence on the internet through a special on-line journal set up by the new OFW electoral watchdog, Migrants’ Watch Network against Electoral Fraud and Violence or Migrantswatch.net.
“Through the on-line journal, we will monitor, report and expose cases of irregularities, fraud and violence – especially in the OAV polls. This is part of our effort to ensure that along with casting one’s ballot, we’re vigilant in ensuring it’s counted,” says Maita Santiago, Migrantswatch.net Spokesperson and Migrante International Secretary-General.
“Already, alarming cases such as the harassment of progressive groups and non-arrival of ballots has been cited,” she added.
According to Santiago, members of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong and Gabriela Women’s Partylist-HK Chapter reported instances where the RP Consulate prevented their members and pollwatchers from entering a polling precinct even though they carried proper accreditation.
“Given that Arroyo’s ‘grand scheme’ to cheat and thwart the entry of progressive partylist organizations in Congress extends overseas – we are especially concerned with ensuring the protection of votes cast for the partylist elections,” said Migrante International Chair, Connie Bragas-Regalado. She also noted that the popular Gabriela Women’s Partylist, which includes OFW concerns in its agenda, is among those targeted by the Arroyo regime.
Migrantswatch.net coordinators abroad include OFW leaders Jones Galang in South Korea, Dolores Balladares in
Hong Kong, Gi Estrada in Taiwan, Butch Pongos in Japan, Cyrine Pinpin in the UEA, Rio Mondelo for
Western Europe and George Kotsakis in Australia.
Overseas Absentee Voting runs from April 14 to May 14 and there are approximately 504,000 registered OAV voters.
The Migrantswatch.net site can be found at migrantswatch.wordpress.com #
