The Embassy of the Philippines in New Zealand successfully concluded the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) elections on 14 May 2013 with the completion of the counting and canvassing of votes conducted by the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) and Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC) at the Philippine Embassy Chancery. Postal voting was adopted for the Philippine OAV in New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.

The Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG) composed of Ms. Ofelia C. Coralde, Mr. Hilario A. Reyes, and Mr. Fernando E. Mamaclay, Jr., verified the official ballots and turned them over to the two SBEIs along with the official election paraphernalia for the counting of the ballots

Two (2) SBEI precincts based on the six hundred twelve (612) registered voters who actually voted under the Embassy’s jurisdiction (New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga) were constituted for the counting. The SBEIs headed by Consul Arlene Gonzales-Macaisa and Mary Bel Garcia began counting at exactly 7:00 p.m. (Manila Time) or 11:00 p.m. (New Zealand Time) on 13 May 2013. A registered watcher from Migrante New Zealand, Mr. Constantino Bernal, Jr., observed the overnight counting.

The two SBEIs turned over the sealed Election Returns to the re-convened SBOC at 12:45 p.m. and 12:55 p.m., respectively, on 14 May 2013. The SBOC completed the canvassing at 7:50 p.m. of the same day. The results of the canvass, which includes the Certificates of Canvass (COC), Statement of Votes by Precinct (SOVP), the Summary of Statement of Votes by Precinct (SSOP), election returns and minutes of the proceedings, were delivered in Manila on 16 May 2013 by the Philippine Embassy’s Atty. Levy Ang, SBOC Chairman.

The Philippine Embassy would like to reiterate its appreciation to the members of the Filipino community in New Zealand who tirelessly assisted in the counting and canvassing of votes for the 2013 Senatorial and Party List Overseas Elections, namely, Ms. Arla Fontamillas, Mr. Norman Zafra, Dr. Amapola D.C. Generosa, Ms. Jaeyelle S. de Dios, Ms. Chona Ignalaga, and Ms. Grelyn Canobis.