PHL concludes absentee voting training in Europe

Philippine officials have concluded a three-day regional training on Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) Registration in Milan, Italy. The Philippine Consulate General in Milan said 53 participants from 26 European and one Middle Eastern foreign service post attended the training that ended on October 19. "The first and second days of the training were devoted to lectures and the third day to hands-on training," the Consulate said. Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioners Rene Sarmiento and Armando Velasco, who chairs the Committee on OAV, oversaw the event. The OAV training is in preparation for the 2013 midterm elections. Sarmiento stressed the importance of empowering overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to vote. He cited the need for greater participation and representation in the country's political process. Also, Sarmiento called on foreign service personnel to help the Comelec reach its goal of registering one million overseas absentee voters. Consul General Lourdes Tabamo welcomed the Comelec officials and the participants and thanked the Comelec for the opportunity to host the said regional training. Last October 19, Sen. Gregorio Honasan II and Rep. Rodel Batocabe visited the training and addressed the participants. Batocabe heads the Technical Working Group on the Amendment of the OAV Law. — LBG, GMA News