KUDOS to Fil-Am community leader Loida Nicolas Lewis for calling out the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) over a resolution that she says is a violation of the Fil-Ams and other overseas voters’ right to freedom of speech, expression, and even assembly.
Lewis, who is a staunch supporter of the Roxas-Robredo team for president and vice president, just filed a case before the Philippine Supreme Court to question the constitutionality of Comelec’s resolution prohibiting partisan political activities abroad during the 30-day overseas voting period which started last April 9.
Comelec rules prohibits any campaigning and partisan political activities during election day. In the Philippines, this will be on May 9. For voters here in the US and other parts of the world, voting started last April 9 up to May 9. Following the contentious COMELEC resolution, Pinoy voters abroad are therefore prohibited to campaign, hold information dissemination rallies and activities during this most important month.
In a Balitang America report, Lewis said, “So that means habang we’re having our election campaigning period here in the Philippines, Filipinos abroad are prohibited to discuss election issues which are relevant to them. So we are questioning this. We have filed a case against the Commission on Elections.”
Lewis likewise suggested that such resolution discriminates against Filipinos overseas, because it denies them to hold campaign events that will help them discuss and understand issues, get to know the candidates better and make a better informed decision in exercising their right of suffrage.
“Sa aming mga overseas Filipinos ang daming dapat pag-usapan. Etong gag order ng Comelec is totally unfair, arbitrary and unreasonable,” Lewsis contended.
Lewis added, “Para bang kayong Filipino overseas, hindi kayo tunay na Pilipino. Kami lang dito ang puwedeng magdiscuss hanggang May 8. Pero kayo diyan — quiet. Mali yon. Unconstitutional.”
Do you agree with Loida Nicolas Lewis? Will you support her fight on behalf of kababayans abroad who want to participate and make their voices and vote heard in deciding who should be the next leaders of the Philippines?
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
