13 April 2019, Tel Aviv – Overseas voting started at exactly 8:00 AM on 13 April 2019 at the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, and will be conducted for thirty (30) straight days until 13 May 2019.

The first to cast a vote was Philippine Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial, followed by a throng of Filipino caregivers based in Israel.

After casting his vote, Ambassador Imperial exhorted registered voters to exercise their right of suffrage. “I would like to encourage our nationals to go out and vote, and to vote for the right leaders – leaders who are visionary, competent, incorruptible and honest. Ultimately, we are responsible for the people we elect,” he said.

“Democracy is like a muscle that needs to be consistently exercised through political participation, or else it will grow weaker,” he added.

He lauded the use of technology to ensure fast, reliable and fair elections through the use of the Automated Election System. “We are one of the few countries in the world that use vote counting machines (VCM) and a computer to canvass the votes, and we should be proud of this major leap forward,” Imperial said.

"It is my first time as overseas voter. I am excited to exercise my right of suffrage," said one of the 160 overseas voters who voted on the first day of elections.

"I voted last 2016 elections and I am exercising my right to vote as overseas voter again. I encourage our Kababayans to vote also," shared another overseas voter who came all the way from Jerusalem.

"The automated voting process is very quick. Please exercise your right to vote, mga Kababayan," a third voter from Tel Aviv said.

There was a minor glitch, however, when the vote counting machine refused to accept a ballot by mid-morning, prompting the Special Ballot Election Inspectors to use the back-up VCM provided by COMELEC in case the main VCM malfunctions.

There are 13,967 registered voters in Israel, out of a total Filipino population estimated at 29,000. In the 2016 elections, Israel had the largest percentage overseas voter turnout in the Middle East.

The Philippine Embassy will be conducting a media campaign to ensure a big voter turnout through its social media platforms and regularly make announcements in Filipino community events and in churches. END.

Philippine Ambassador to the State of Israel Neal Imperial is first to cast a vote in the 2019 overseas voting in the Holy Land.

Overseas Filipino Workers' casting their votes on the first day of the overseas voting in Israel.

Queueing at the Voter's Verification Area of the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel.