SC allows campaigning for overseas votes, but not near embassies

BAGUIO CITY—Candidates and their supporters may now continue campaigning abroad during the month-long overseas voting period for Filipinos so long as they steer clear of Philippine embassies and other voting venues.

Partially granting a plea filed by Filipino-American businesswoman Loida Nicolas Lewis and the Ateneo Human Rights Center, the Supreme Court (SC) issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) ban on overseas campaigning during the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) period.

During its last summer session on Tuesday, the high court said the TRO was “effective immediately and continuing until further orders from the court.”  The court released the resolution on Wednesday.

The high court, however, said the ban would, continue in Philippine embassies, consulates and other posts where voting was being conducted.

The court ordered the Comelec to comment on the petition “within a nonextensible period of five days from notice.”

The OAV began on April 9 and will end on May 9, the local balloting day.  There are an estimated 1.36 million registered overseas Filipino voters.