Senator Robin Padilla has urged the government to listen to concerns raised by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) about the online voting system for the May 2025 elections.
In a press conference in Quezon City, Padilla shared that OFWs he met in The Hague, Germany, Poland, Qatar, and other countries prefer the traditional voting method.
“Itong issue ng online, sa totoo lang, ako ay galing sa ibang bansa. Nanggaling ako The Hague, Germany, Poland, Qatar at ibang lugar … Lahat sila, ang pakiusap, gusto nila yung dati nilang ginagawa, kung anong kinaugalian nila,” according to him.
“Hindi ako nandito para makipagkontrahan sa Comelec. Ang puso ng OFW medyo alanganin sila sa online,” he added.
Padilla said some OFWs are even considering boycotting the elections due to distrust in the system, though he tried to discourage them. He added he was willing to accompany them to register.
“Pero sana po sa ating namumuno sa bayang ito lalo sa Comelec, intindihin nyo sana ang damdamin ng ating OFW. Yan din hiling namin sa Korte Suprema,” he also said.
The actor-turned-politician also reminded Filipinos of their power on Election Day.
“Dapat ipaglaban ninyo ang kapangyarihan ninyong yan dahil yan ang magdedesisyon ng kinabukasan ng ating bayan. Wag nyo ipagpapalit ang araw na yan dahil yan ang araw ninyo,” said Padilla.IMT
