KIKO PANGILINAN LAUDS PHILIPPINE CONSULATE'S EFFORT TO MAKE ABSENTEE VOTERS' REGISTRATION EASIER

Independent senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan lauds the Philippine consulate in Los Angeles for their effort in putting up a satellite registration office in Las Vegas.

"We are pleased that our people abroad are coming up with ways to make overseas absentee voter registration a possibility," said Pangilinan. "We talked to a number of OFWs and their main concern is that registration offices are often far from their place of residence or work. This initiative of our consulate in Los Angeles is very much appreciated."

Overseas absentee voter (OAV) registrants are currently required to personally appear before representatives of the COMELEC at diplomatic posts or Philippine embassies, consulate, and other Philippine agencies abroad having jurisdiction over places where OAVs temporarily reside.

Pangilinan, together with fellow reformists, earlier launched the Register and Vote (RV) campaign. The group said that there are currently 9 million qualified Filipino voters that are unregistered.

"A good number of Filipinos overseas are eager to participate in the 2010 elections. Our advocacy to register our countrymen includes those working or living abroad. We would like to work closely with the COMELEC in making this possible," Pangilinan said.