Dear Mr. Cato, Mr. Romualdez, and the COMELEC Office for Overseas Voting:

As Filipino citizens and members of the Filipino-American community, we are outraged by the Philippine Consulate General New York’s public advisory regarding delays in the transport of election materials for the 2022 Philippine National Elections and the general lack of timely information on the voting process. We consider this unacceptable, as it has the effect of disenfranchising voters in the Northeastern United States. It also raises reasonable concerns that the COMELEC and the Philippine Consulate in New York might be intentionally and purposefully denying our constitutionally protected right to vote in this year’s elections.

Overseas voting starts on April 10, 2022, but we still do not have any electronic or printed information regarding the process for overseas voting. Nor do we have our ballots. The Duterte administration allotted P26.7 billion ($524 million) to the Commission on Elections last January 2022 for conducting efficient and orderly elections nationwide and globally. Given this enormous budget funded by the Filipino people, the office of Mr. Cato must already have been empowered, organized, and prepared to act as the sole enfranchising agent for Filipino voters here. So why is there a lack of information, transparency, and responsiveness from the Philippine Consulate regarding overseas voting—which, we repeat, is due to take place in a few days? We demand an explanation for the delay and lack of transparency from the Philippine Consulate and the Commission on Elections.

To the Philippine Consulate in NY and the COMELEC Office for Overseas Voting: As the representatives of the Filipino people in this matter, you ought to be concerned, indeed alarmed, and most importantly resolved, to address what is undoubtedly shaping up to be a form of voter disenfranchisement.

To ensure an honest, transparent, and peaceful elections that begin on April 10, we demand the following:

1. Electronic and printed voting materials should be disseminated now. We should not wait for the voting machines to come in from the Philippines.

2. A help desk is created to assist voters who have questions about the voting process (via walk-ins, phone, and email).

3. Timely and transparent information on the voting and vote counting process will be shared on various social media platforms, including through live-streaming to ensure that our ballots are received, properly handled, and counted by the Consulate.

4. Ensure voters' right to cast their ballot regardless of any address or delivery issues, including lost or damaged ballots or ballots rendered void by error.

5. Information regarding the mechanics of tallying or canvassing votes to determine how many individuals can volunteer as poll watchers.

We assert our right to participate in political decision-making through our votes and contribute to strengthening democracy and delivering a better quality of life for the Filipino people. We count on your support in creating the conditions for this to happen.

#NasaanAngBalota #Halalan2022

Respectfully,

Initial List of Signatories

1. Caterina M. Alcala Reed, Librarian, SUNY Stony Brook
2. Gigi Apostol, Patient Benefit Advisor, Medical Center, University of Vermont
3. Gina Apostol, Writer, Malaya NY
4. Tito Apostol, Medical Center, Cardiac Ultrasound, University of Vermont
5. Marissa Aroy, Filmmaker, Lecturer, The New School
6. Ruthie Arroyo, Migrante NJ, Jersey City, New Jersey
7. Rebecca C. Asedillo, Retired, New York
8. Hosannah Asuncion, Professor, Borough of Manhattan Community College/CUNY
9. Nerissa S. Balce, Associate professor, SUNY Stony Brook & Malaya NY
10. Kale Bantigue Fajardo Associate Professor, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
11. Joi Barrios Leblanc, Writer, Lecturer, UC Berkeley
12. Grace Bejosano, Student, Brooklyn, New York
13. Erin Berja, Boston Pilipinx Education, Advocacy, and Resources, Boston, Massachusetts
14. John D. Blanco, Associate professor, UC San Diego
15. Tracy Buenavista, Professor, Cal State Northridge
16. Lucy MSP Burns, Associate Professor, UCLA
17. Jules Augustine Caspillo, Physical Therapist, New York
18. Ma. Teresa Caspillo, 1Sambayan, New York
19. Roland Sintos Coloma, Professor, Wayne State University
20. Sony Corañez Bolton, Assistant Professor, Amherst College
21. Jeffrey A. Cabusao, Professor, Department of English and Cultural Studies, Bryant University
22. Florentino Capili, School Administrator, Malaya NJ, Jersey City, New Jersey
23. Ruben Carranza, Human rights lawyer
24. Richard Chu, Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
25. Fidelito C. Cortes, Poet, Lecturer, CUNY Hunter College
26. Roman Damaso, Columbia University, New York
27. Melinda Luisa de Jesus, Associate professor, California College of the Arts
28. Deirdre De la Cruz, Associate Professor, University of Michigan
29. Conely De Leon
30. Manny De Leon, Community organizer
31. Carolina H. De Leon, Retired, Malaya NY
32. Fritzie de Mata, Cal Alumni Association, UC Berkeley
33. Maharaj "Raju" Desai, Faculty, City College of San Francisco
34. Josen Masangkay Diaz, Assistant Professor, University of San Diego
35. Kale Bantigue Fajardo, Associate Professor, U of Minnesota Twin Cities
36. Laurel Flores Fantauzzo, Assistant Professor, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
37. Luis H. Francia, Poet, Professor, NYU
38. Valerie Francisco-Menchavez, Associate Professor, San Francisco State University
39. Annelle Maranan Garcia, Asian American Liberation Network
40. Mario Eric Gamalinda, Writer, Professor, Columbia University
41. Sarah Gambito, Professor, Fordham University
42. Nida Gonzales, Nutritionist/Dietitian, United Filipinos of North America USA, Jersey City, New Jersey
43. Vernadette Gonzalez, Professor, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
44. Deborah Mozo Hernandez, Wilfred Laurier University, Canada
45. Emily Noelle Sanchez Ignacio, Associate Professor, University of Washington Tacoma
46. Julie Jamora, National Secretary General, Malaya Movement USA`, New York
47. Ferdie Lopez, PhD Student, University of Toronto, Canada
48. Nina Macapinlac, BAYAN USA, New York
49. Cynthia Marasigan, Associate professor, SUNY Binghamton
50. Jackelyn Mariano, Esq., professor, CUNY Hunter College; organizer, Malaya NY
51. Eugenio Matibag, Professor emeritus, Iowa State University
52. Isadora Miranda, Academic Pathways Postdoctoral Scholar, Vanderbilt University
53. Edward Nadurata, Phd student, UC Irvine
54. Yves Nibungco, National Chairperson, Malaya Movement USA, Jersey City, New Jersey
55. Lora Nicholas, Artist, Writer, Young Global Filipinos for Leni-Kiko, New York
56. Melissa-Ann Nievera-Lozano, Evergreen Valley College
57. Nita Noveno, Writer, Lecturer, Borough of Manhattan Community College/CUNY
58. Timothy Ong, PhD student, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
59. Vina Orden, Writer, Malaya NY
60. Danica Pagulayan, Anakbayan-USA, Corona, New York
61. Ralph Peña, Artistic Director, May-Yi Theater Company, NY
62. Martin Joseph Ponce, Associate Professor, Ohio State University
63. Ricky Punzalan, Associate Professor, University of Michigan
64. AK Rivera, Educator, American Speech and Hearing Association, Coordinator Malaya NY, New York
65. Dylan Rodriguez, Co-director, Center for Ideas and Society, 2020 Freedom Scholar and Professor, UC Riverside
66. Robyn Rodriguez, Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies
67. Matt Rosales, Lecturer at John Jay College, CUNY, 1Sambayan USA-NE, Woodside, New York
68. Joy Sales, Assistant Professor, California State University, Los Angeles
69. Mark Sanchez, Research Associate, Vanderbilt University
70. Jeffrey Santa Ana, Associate professor, SUNY Stony Brook & Malaya NY
71. Sarita Echavez See, Professor, UC Riverside
72. Candice Sering, NYSNA, New York
73. Lara Stapleton, Writer, Professor, Borough of Manhattan Community College/ CUNY
74. Thea Quiray Tagle, Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Boston
75. Eileen Tabios, Writer, Meritage Press
76. Neferti Tadiar, Professor, Barnard College, Columbia University
77. Nastasia Tangherlini, High school teacher, Theater Arts Production Company School, NY
78. Ethel Tungohan, Associate Professor, York University, Canada
79. Gina Velasco, Assistant Professor, Gettysburg College
80. Michael Viola, Associate Professor, Saint Mary's College, CA
81. Bianca Vinoya, Astoria, New York
82. Bobby Young, Executive Committee, Malaya NJ, Jersey City, New Jersey