The Philippine Embassy in Dili reported that the month-long overseas voting period for the 2016 Philippine National Elections has formally begun in Timor-Leste on April 9.

The first two Filipinos who cast their votes were Messrs. Delfin A. Gurrea, Jr. and Jose Vergilio Y. Jaquilmac who are both engaged in Timor-Leste’s construction sector. Eager to participate in this year’s elections, they arrived at the Embassy as soon as the polling precinct was opened to the public at 8:00 a.m.

A total of twenty-three (23) voters cast their ballots at the Embassy on the first day of the overseas elections.

The Embassy is strongly encouraging registered Filipino voters in Timor-Leste to exercise their right of suffrage as guaranteed by fundamental laws and enshrined under the Philippine Constitution.

“We appeal to our kababayans to participate in state-building by choosing the national leaders who will steer our nation towards prosperity and success,” Philippine Ambassador to Timor-Leste Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia said.

From 10 April to 8 May 2016, the Embassy will be open for voting from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On 9 May 2016, the last day of the elections, voting will be from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, is 1 hour ahead of Manila).

The registered voters are encouraged as well to vote early and avoid the last-minute rush. For their convenience, they may wish to make an appointment with the Embassy either through the Embassy’s landline (3310407) or 24/7 hotline (77928092).

The conduct of the OAV elections in Dili is a one-country team effort with the Embassy’s attached agency, the Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (ODAFA), augmenting the lean staff complement of the Embassy.

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