Comelec hits fake news on overseas absentee voting

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines – As the overseas voting for the midterm polls started around the globe, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Spokesperson James Jimenez slammed the rise of “fake news” which he tagged as “OA” or overacting.

According to Jimenez, reports such as the supposed result of the overseas voting on senatorial candidates and party-list groups were already circulating. Also, there were rumors of cheating in Hong Kong.

Jimenez debunked these rumors, saying overseas voting results would not be released until after Election Day on May 13 and that no cheating was reported in Hong Kong.

“Yung mga ganyang rushing to conclusions, yung mga paglalagay ng masamang kulay sa mga kaganapan, yan yung mga namo-monitor natin ngayon,” Jimenez said in an interview with dzMM.

“Again, ang fake news ang OA, hindi yung botante. Yung mga botante may mga lehitimong complaints. ‘Yan ay natutugunan natin,” he added.

Jimenez said fake news being circulated among voters was aimed at discouraging overseas voters from voting or for the public to lose trust in the system.

Overseas voting for the midterm polls started on Saturday, April 13, and will cease at the end of the day on May 13, Election Day in the country.

More than 1.8 million Filipinos are registered as overseas voters. /cbb

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