Comelec studying how to get OAV results in parts of China amid COVID-19 surge

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday said it was studying how to get the results of the overseas absentee voting (OAV) in Hong Kong, Macau, and other parts of China in light of the surge in COVID-19 cases there. 

“Pinag-aaralan na ng NBOC (National Board of Canvassers) kung paano na maipauuna maipadala ang resulta ng halalan for Hong Kong, Macau, and other parts of mainland China to exclude Shanghai,” acting Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said at a press briefing.

(The NBOC is studying how to expedite the transmission of results of the elections in Hong Kong, Macau, and other parts of mainland China, excluding Shanghai.)

“So ito po ay kasalukuyang inaaral na kung paano gagawin para mas mapatuloy natin ang canvassing in those areas concerned,” he added.

(We are studying our next steps so that we can proceed with the canvassing in those areas concerned.)

Laudiangco earlier assured that they would proceed with the elections in Shanghai despite the COVID-19 surge that has left most of its 25 million residents locked down for several weeks.

The Comelec earlier suspended the OAV in Shanghai, the epicenter of China's worst COVID-19 outbreak to date.

“Kasi yung Shanghai hindi natin masabi eh hindi nga po natin malaman in the next few weeks or the next month so gagawan na ng paraan para mauna na,” he said in an ambush interview.

(In Shanghai, we cannot say what will happen in the next few weeks or next month, so we are doing our best to get the results as soon as possible.)

Last month, at least 10 Filipinos were placed under quarantine in Shanghai after testing positive for COVID-19. —VBL, GMA News