Filipinos back Duterte’s drug war at polls
▶ Expats cast votes in midterm elections at Philippines embassy in Abu Dhabi yesterday
Filipinos in the UAE have called for the country’s war on illegal drugs to continue, as polls opened yesterday in Abu Dhabi for the Philippines’ midterm elections.
Voters turned out at the Philippines Embassy in Abu Dhabi to cast their votes in the election, which is seen as a referendum on the controversial policies of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Twelve seats will be up for grabs in the country’s senate, while the electorate will also appoint 300 members of congress, local council members, provincial governors as well as town and city mayors.
The Philippines is one of several countries with an absentee voting system, which allows nationals aged 18 and above to take part from overseas, as long as they are registered in advance. Voting will continue until Saturday, May 13.
While Mr Duterte is not facing the voters himself, a number of Filipinos at the polls in the UAE capital said they support candidates with similar policies.
Mr Duterte, who swept to power in the 2016 election, has pursued a bloody and violent war on illegal drugs, backed a return to capital punishment and has launched an anti-corruption drive.
However, a favourable Senate and House of Representatives, which have the power to block laws, is seen as vital if he is to deliver on his priorities, including constitutional reform and a huge injection of infrastructure spending.
“I want the anti-drug campaign by President Rodrigo Duterte to continue,” said Orson Ceniza, after voting for the OFW party.
“I have noticed that drug use has dropped in our area,” said the 46-year-old nurse, originally from the island of Mindanao.
He said that he would like to see more corrupt officials brought to justice.
Marissa Filosopo, a 43-yearold school-bus attendant, also voted for the OFW party. “I want to see progress in my country – no drugs, no rape.”
She said since Mr Duterte came into power, the number of drug crimes has fallen.
“There was a lot before. And no to corruption, that is the main thing.”
She said she would also like to see the new candidates focus on education.
“Some government schools don’t have enough classrooms for the pupils. My daughter is in eighth grade and sometimes they call off the lessons if they don’t find an available classroom,” she said. “And I would like to see more tourists come to the Philippines.”
Inside the voting hall, things seemed to run smoothly as a steady stream of voters entered. Voting is from 9am to 5pm until May 13.
Lida Detros said the standard of living has improved in the Philippines since Mr Duterte was elected.
“There are a lot of Filipinos with better living conditions now, and there are more job opportunities and the economy is getting better.”
During the midterm elections, senators will be contesting 12 of the 24 seats in the upper house of Congress.
There are 109,130 people eligible to vote in Abu Dhabi, according to the Philippine embassy. The figure represents a 51 per cent increase on the 2016 voter roll. A further 209,862, living in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, are also able to vote.
In the Philippines, voters in the midterms will be choosing more than 17,000 local government representatives. All seats in the House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress, are up for grabs.
For voters based in the UAE and elsewhere, they only vote on senators, who represent the whole nation rather than specific areas, and a minority of members of the House of Representatives, who are elected through “party lists”.
The list system, in which voters choose a party rather than an individual under a system of proportional representation, is used for 20 per cent of the 297 House of Representatives seats.
Some government schools don’t have enough classrooms for the pupils MARISSA FILOSOPO School-bus attendant