PH EMBASSY IN KOREA FIRST TO TRANSMIT OVERSEAS ELECTION RETURNS TO COMELEC IN THE 2022 NATIONAL ELECTIONS

Of the total voters this year, 2,828 exercised their right to suffrage by personal voting at the Embassy premises in Seoul while 128 voted through field voting missions in Busan and Daegu on April 15 to 16 and April 29 to 30, respectively.

The Embassy was open for Overseas Absentee Voting for thirty (30) straight days from 10 April 2022 until 8:00 PM on 9 May 2022, Korea Standard Time. Counting of election returns, canvassing of votes, and transmission to the Philippines via the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) server lasted until 1:20 am of the following day in the presence of accredited media, poll watchers, and observers.

The election-related operations of post were undertaken by the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) headed by Consul General Romulo Victor Israel, the Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC) led by Chair Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, and the Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG) headed by Ms. Anna Gabriella Estimada-Guinto.

The Embassy is pleased to note that Seoul PE ranked as second-fastest voting center for transmittal overall (including local transmissions) to the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), and the first to successfully transmit election returns via the Automated Election System (AES) as an Overseas Voting post.

The original copies of official documents related to counting and canvassing were personally delivered to the NBOC by SBOC Chair Olavario on 13 May 2022.

Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega commended the Philippine Embassy officers and staff deputized by the COMELEC to serve as members of its electoral boards, as well as the technical and administrative support staff for their commitment to ensuring a transparent, fair, and safe Overseas Voting exercise while at the same time fulfilling their regular duties.

Ambassador De Vega likewise extended her appreciation to the Filipino community, particularly all voters, poll watchers, accredited media, and observers, and the support of the Korean government including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korean local police for the successful conduct of the elections. END