Embassy calls on Filipinos in Qatar to report exit poll violations during election

The Embassy of the Philippines in Qatar

The Embassy of the Philippines in Qatar warned the Filipino community against election misconduct and asked to report any individuals or individual parties on the premature announcement of exit poll results.

Premature announcements of exit poll results in relation to the 2022 national and local elections constitutes grave violation of Philippine election laws, the Philippine embassy in Doha has warned. Addressing the Filipino community in Doha, the embassy issued an advisory stressing the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) strict prohibition on the premature announcements of election or exit poll results, which is a violation of “Philippine election laws, such as, but not limited to, the Republic Act No. 9006, otherwise known as the Fair Elections Act.”

In a post on its Facebook page, the embassy said: “With respect to violation of election laws, such as the publication of exit polls, propagation of false and alarming reports or information, circulation of false orders during the conduct of overseas voting, and other similar activities, the Comelec has requested the Department of Foreign Affairs to gather reports from the Philippine Embassies/Consulates on election offenses committed, and to specifically include the following information in their reports so that the Comelec can determine whether cases can be filed against the erring individuals:

1. Name of the offending party:
2. The name of his/her organisation, political party, party-list group, or candidate in case of poll watchers, as well as observers, media entities, or civil society partners;
3. Description of the acts or omissions complained of;
4. The date of commission of the offences; and
5. Sworn statement or affidavit of witness

“The Embassy therefore calls on the Filipino community in Qatar to be vigilant and to report to the Embassy any individuals or individual parties willfully flouting Philippine election laws by providing the above information required by Comelec.”

Source: Philippine Embassy in Qatar