KUWAIT: Consul General Raul Dado inspects the polling precincts at the embassy. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

KUWAIT: Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the 'Donald Trump' of the Philippines, is clearly the favorite of Filipinos not only back home, but also at the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) conducted in Kuwait. Based on the official result last night at the Philippine Embassy in Faiha, Duterte lead by far with 9,747 votes against his nearest rival Grace Poe, who only got 598 votes. "By definition of landslide, Rodrigo Duterte definitely won by a landslide here in Kuwait," said Philippine Consul General Raul Dado, who is overseeing the Philippine embassy election since the start of OAV on April 9 which culminated yesterday, synchronized with the Philippine elections.

Dado said the conduct of elections here was orderly, honest and Filipinos were able to select their candidates according to their conscience. "From day one, I have noticed the enthusiasm of every Filipino who participated in the election process. This is very encouraging and I have seen the favorite candidate winning. In the process of this exercise, I have also witnessed the respect and support of every Filipino to each other. Even if they have different opinions, they still respect each other," he said.

24.81 percent

Immediately after closing the precincts at noon, Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa, who is acting as chairman of the Board of Election Canvasser, and his deputy Cesar Chavez, also the Philippine Labor Attache to Kuwait, convened the board for canvassing of votes. "Voter turnout was 24.81 percent or 14,524 individuals. We have 58,533 registered voters in Kuwait and the result is reasonable since many of the voters could not go out and vote as the majority of household service workers have to seek permission from their employers," he added. Many Filipino household service workers here work seven days a week, and if they are not accompanied by their employers, they are not able to take a day off even once a month.

"The turnout is not so ideal but compared to the last elections, the turnout has doubled. We projected it a bit higher, but there are so many obstacles in the path of the workers," he said. The embassy synchronized closed the election precincts here exactly at noon to the closing time of elections back home.

The official OAV result in Kuwait (for president) is as follows: Rodrigo Duterte (9,747) Jejomar Binay (224), Miriam Defensor Santiago (580), Grace Poe (598) and Mar Roxas (1,021). For vice president, Bongbong Marcos was leading with 4,777 votes against his closest rival Allan Peter Cayetano with 4,666 votes. Among other vice presidential contenders, Leni Robredo got 1,999 votes, Chiz Escudero (545) Sonny Trillanes (85) and Gringo Honasan (85).

A month's period

The presidential election in the Philippines was held yesterday, but overseas Filipinos were given a month's period to cast their votes at their respective missions abroad. Many of the voters who selected Duterte want a tougher president to replace the outgoing president Benigno Simion Aquino III. Clyn Bioco Ivilla, 32, said: "I want him to be our next president. He is the best candidate to lead the country because he has a track record in Davao City. I want my family to be safe at all times and this is what he did in Davao, which if elected, I know he could also do the same in the Philippines," he said.

Elpedio Alegado, 40, also wants Duterte: "I want his anti-criminality policy and his tough campaign to eradicate drugs in the Philippines. Drugs have already destroyed many lives and if not controlled, we'll turn into a drug addicted country. Enough of criminality, and if he wins, he promised to kill criminals and people who are not following the law," he said.

Pricilla Cruz, 59, from Zambales, voted for Grace Poe. However, she found herself in the office of Dado after her vote was not counted based on the receipt provided by the vote counting machine (VCM). "I put a dot in the oval only; I was thinking it was the safest way to avoid over-shading the oval. I was informed about the shading to be careful - perhaps I did not listen enough," she admitted. "I do not want to blame them - I thought the dot would be enough for the machine to count my vote," she lamented.

Thankful

But Pricilla was thankful she was able to participate in the national election for the first time since working in Kuwait from 1986. "I have been here in Kuwait for many years now and I am happy to be participating in the election. I am a mother of two, one is in Canada and she wants me to join her next year. I will see - I am old and I want to retire," she said. Asked why she voted for Poe, she said she liked her because she represents many Filipinos. "Grace is a foundling and she was able to make it to the top; she a mother, and very soft spoken. She really has a plan for the country and she wants it done quickly. She is very focused, and I hope she will win," she said.

About 10 million Filipinos work abroad - but only 1.3 million are registered as Overseas Absentee Voters (OAVs). In Kuwait, 200,000 Filipinos are eligible to vote, but only around 58,533 are registered and could vote in this year's election. The Overseas Absentee Voting Act is a law in the Philippines passed on Feb 13, 2003 which provides for a system for citizens of the Philippines residing or working outside the Philippines to vote in an election. The process is being implemented by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) with the help of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

By Ben Garcia