Filipinos in Portugal and Angola Vote for 2019 Midterm Elections at PH Embassy in Lisbon

Filipino in Algarve region in southern Portugal were the first to cast their votes for the midterm election. The group pose with Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria (third from left). (Lisbon PE photo)

LISBON 17 April 2019 – The Philippine Embassy in Lisbon began its 30-day election period for overseas voters on 13 April 2019. The Embassy’s first voters arrived at the start of the first voting day, driving three hours from the Algarve region in southern Portugal. 

Registered Filipino voters in Angola began to cast their ballots on 14 April 2019 in Luanda. Minister and Consul General Gines Jaime Ricardo D. Gallaga personally delivered the ballots to Angola on 12 April 2019. While in Angola, Consul General Gallaga will also gather all the ballots cast and bring them back to Lisbon tomorrow to be given to the Embassy’s Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group.

The Philippine Embassy in Lisbon’s Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) reported that the majority of the ballots cast at the Embassy were from women registered voters based in Lisbon.

The month-long overseas absentee elections will run from April 13 to May 13. This will enable registered Filipino voters in Portugal as well as in Angola and Guinea-Bissau, where the Embassy has concurrent jurisdiction over, an opportunity to cast their votes in the 2019 mid-term elections for 12 senators and a party-list representative.

The Embassy will carry Department of Foreign Affairs-Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) and Commission on Election’s (COMELEC) battle cry and slogan for this election period: “Let’s All Vote! Let’s Strengthen our Democracy. It’s Our Right and Duty.”

It expects a busy 30-day voting period with expected arrival of over 20 cruise ships docking at the Lisbon Cruise terminal, bringing with them Filipino seafarers working on board. END

Voters at the Philippine Embassy in Lisbon verifying their names on the Certified List of Voters (CLOV). (Lisbon PE photo)

Philippine Embassy in Lisbon’s Special Board of Election Inspectors Chairperson Dr. Angel H. Espiritu Jr. receives ballot from voter. (Lisbon PE photo)

Minister and Consul General Gines Jaime Ricardo D. Gallaga receiving a ballot from a Filipino overseas female voter based in Angola, after the weekend volleyball tournament which took place at the compound of the Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Angola. (Lisbon PE photo)

Minister and Consul General Gines Jaime Ricardo D. Gallaga receiving a ballot from a Filipino overseas voter based in Angola. (Lisbon PE photo)

For more information, visit www.lisbonpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinPortugal/.