The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) warned Thursday, Feb. 25, the public, particularly the overseas Filipinos against transacting with 1 VOTE PH/ ONE VOTE PH, saying that it is "not an accredited citizen’s arm or civil society partner" of the poll body.
In a disclaimer notice issued Thursday, the Commission and OFOV said an organization named 1 VOTE PH/ONE VOTE PH has been introducing itself as a non-profit/ community organization on Facebook and in email blasts to various government agencies.
According to the poll body, the group announced that it has a purported “nationwide campaign for educating the public regarding voter registration, voting, electoral reform and other issues concerning our rights to vote and about general election.”
The Commission said 1 VOTE PH/ONE VOTE PH also recently announced its upcoming setting up of its “Main Command Center” with hotline numbers and toll-free numbers for local overseas Filipino voters.
“Please note that the Commission on Elections and the Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) are not in any way connected or affiliated with 1 VOTE PH, and that it is not an accredited citizens' arm or civil society partner of the Comelec,” read the disclaimer notice posted on Comelec’s Facebook page.
“Kindly disregard and/or treat with caution all communications from 1 VOTE PH purporting or claiming to be undertaken with the knowledge or consent of , or in partnership or cooperation with the Comelec,” it added.
The poll body said the group is using the following names or aliases on Facebook: One Vote PH Volunteers, Magpa Rehistro Ka, Keystrat Campaign Hub or Key Strategy Campaign Hub Co., Keynote Leaders of “I Trust Keynote Leaders”, One Philippines or “I Trust One Philippines”, Poll Watchers PH, Bantay Boto PH or “I Trust Bantay Boto PH”, Election 2022 or “I Trust Election 2022”, Halalan 2022 or “I Trust Halalan 2022” Vote Philippines 2022, Boto PIlipinas 2022, Philippine Business Club or Philippine Business Club Worldwide, and Astig Kabataan PInoy- Youth Voters.
The Comelec advised overseas Filipinos to “take extra precautions in their dealings with organisations claiming to be partners of the Comelec.”
In case of doubt, the overseas Filipinos may contact the OFOV through Facebook page: https://fb.com/overseasvotingph or email at overseas [email protected], the poll body said.