PCGNY.net | News Release

Philippine Consulate open everyday to receive ballots;
Urges some voters to claim ballots

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE - NEWS RELEASE
30 April 2007

NEW YORK --- The Philippine Consulate General in New York is accepting ballots that are either mailed or personally delivered to the Consulate General office in Manhattan by registered overseas absentee voters seven days a week. This was announced by Consul General Cecilia Rebong in reply to questions about voting hours during the month-long Overseas Absentee Voting which started on April 14.

“Our office receives ballots Monday to Sunday, from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. although on May 13, the Consulate will receive ballots continuously from 9 A.M. until the close of the voting period at 3:00 A.M. of May 14, 2007, New York time,” Consul General Rebong explained.

As of April 27, the Consulate has received a total of 229 mailed-in ballots out of the 1,916 absentee voters who registered with the Philippine Consulate General in New York. “We expect all of the 1,916 to eventually cast their ballots just like our experience during the 2004 elections when voter turn-out began to surge only in the last days of the voting period,” Consul Rebong said.

Voters who indicated the Consulate as their mailing address

Consul General Rebong also said that there are about thirty (30) ballots that were directly mailed to the Philippine Consulate General in New York by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). “These ballots belong to absentee voters who indicated the Philippine Consulate General as their return address when they registered for Overseas Absentee Voting,” the Consul General clarified. “We have already sent letters to a number of these absentee voters, advising them to contact the Consulate for instructions on how they wish to claim or receive their ballots,” Rebong added. “However, the Consulate does not have the addresses of the other voters. We request these voters to call Mr. Jose Morales at (212) 764-1330 ext 604 to request the mailing of their ballots, or to pick them up from the Consulate (ID required at 556 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036).

Ballots that were “returned-to-sender”

Aside from the 30 ballots mentioned above, the Consulate General has received seventy-six (76) ballots that were marked “return-to-sender” by the U.S. postal office. “Perhaps the voters who own these ballots changed address after registering as absentee voters so their ballots were returned to Comelec in Manila, and then forwarded to the Consulate,” Consul General Rebong said. “We do not want these voters disenfranchised and so we are publishing their names so that they may claim their ballots at the Consulate office in Manhattan,” she added. The following may claim their ballots anytime at the Philippine Consulate General located at 556 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan:

1. Marilou C. Agcaoili
2. Martin N. Alcano
3. Edmund B. Ancheta
4. Taha M. Basman
5. Donne Bennett D. Caces
6. Regina Marie J. De La Rama
7. Marie Madeleine B. Denoga
8. Ardelynne Melanie V. Eco
9. Teresita C. Gaborno
10. Junstiniano F. Guerrero
11. Benedicto Jr. G. Hojilla
12. Johanna H. Ilagan
13. Dale Dexter S. Jabagat
14. Paul T. Leonardo
15. Angelita N. Macatulad
16. Irving Ariel D. Manaog
17. Miguel K. Mathay
18. Mary Jo Y. Namin
19. Rosechin T. Olfindo
20. Guedalupe S. Omaguing
21. Ma. Rosabelle F. Padilla
22. Amaya Cristina C. Aboitiz
23. Elaine Marie Y. Aglipay
24. Myrna J. Alejo-Brusco
25. Maria Concepcion V. Alinea
26. Noemi M. Amores
27. Pamela Mari R. Arizala
28. Isabelita G. Arnaldo
29. Gorgonia C. Banez
30. Florita O. Barba
31. Valerie Marina F. Barrios
32. Anne Marie S. Benedicto
33. Joselito M. Bernales
34. Luis Victor L. Blanco
35. Christian Paolo B. Brion
36. Raphael A. Carandang
37. Pura B. Cimafranca
38. Carolina A. Constantino
39. Benjamin Jr. C. De La Pena
40. Lyonel B. De Sagun
41. Marilyn S. Dela Merced
42. Mernel M. Delen
43. Myrna Colina B. Dideles
44. Melvin H. Dimaculangan
45. Nina Carmel P. Dy
46. Maria Angelica G. Escano
47. Enrique Antonio O. Florendo
48. Rudy C. Gaborno
49. Juan Carlos E. Gohu
50. Grace Carmela R. Gonzales
51. Napoleon B. Gutierrez
52. Ricardo Luis G. Hilado
53. Ninfa L. Hojilla
54. Josephone Joy S. Honrade
55. Documento C. Israeli Dole
56. Arlene A. Lacerna
57. Karlo Angelo P. Laforteza
58. Analiza M. Lansangan
59. Maria Victoria R. Lovina
60. Max C. Malvas
61. Myrna L. Maranan
62. Rose Anne L. Meagher
63. Kathleen G. Millo
64. Kenneth G. Millo
65. Carlos Jr. T. Miralles
66. Homobono Adrian B. Ortega
67. Emmanuel P. Ortencio
68. Basiledes U. Tongco
69. Valeri Christine G. Villarruz
70. Joel M. Villaseca
71. Isabelo M. Zaratan
72. Mercedita P. Castro
73. Maria Veronica D. Dela Cruz
74. Kathleen V. Go
75. Jonathan L. Lontok
76. Rosell N. Ouano

Those who will be claiming their ballots are reminded to bring with them at least one valid photo I.D., with signature, for verification purposes.

Instructions to voters on filling out absentee ballot form

Consul General Rebong finally reiterated the rules issued by COMELEC on how to properly accomplish absentee ballots:

1. Accomplish fully the ballot by writing the names of the candidates for Senators and party-list representatives;
2. Affix right thumb-mark on the ballot coupon which is located on the lower portion of the ballot;
3. Detach the ballot coupon from the ballot and place it (the ballot coupon) inside the “Outer Envelope;”
4. Place the accomplished ballot inside the “Inner Envelope;”
5. Seal the “Inner Envelope” where the accomplished ballot is placed;
6. Place the sealed “Inner Envelope” inside the “Outer Envelope”. Ensure that the ballot inside the “Inner Envelope” is neither crumpled nor folded when it reaches the embassy, consulate or foreign establishment concerned;
7. Write your name and affix signature in the proper space provided in the “Outer Envelope;”
8. Seal the “Outer Envelope” with a paper seal (OAVF No. 12);
9. Mail the “Outer Envelope” to the embassy, consulate or Foreign Service establishment concerned. Mailing should be done at the soonest possible time to ensure that your ballot is received by the embassy, consulate, or foreign establishment concerned on or before 14 May 2007 at 3:00 a.m., New York Time (or 3:00 p.m., Philippine time).

The Consul General added that “failure to strictly observe the above rules could invalidate a ballot.”