The Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that it registered its first overseas voter for the mid-term elections scheduled in 2013.

Ms. Rose Rios Taban, an Overseas Filipino Worker based in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, was the first overseas voter to register for the 2013 elections. She was previously based in Camandag, Kabankalan, Negros Occidental.

H.E. Ambassador Nestor Z. Ochoa led officials and staff of the Philippine Embassy in registering for the 2013 elections.

He called on all Filipino nationals who have not registered as overseas voters to register in the Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam for the elections scheduled in 2013.

"I am calling on all my kababayans, who are not otherwise disqualified under the law, to register as overseas absentee voters and exercise their right to select the country's next leaders in the 2013 mid-term elections," he stated.

H.E. Ambassador Nestor Z. Ochoa registering as an Overseas Voter for the Overseas Voting scheduled on 2013.

Ambassador Ochoa further clarified that those who are qualified to register in the Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam are the following:

• New voters who will be at least 18 years old and will be based in Brunei Darussalam at the time of the general elections in 13 May 2013;

• Voters who are registered elsewhere but have moved residence and will be based in Brunei Darussalam at the time of the general elections in 13 May 2013; and

• Filipino nationals who had registered as overseas absentee voters in Brunei Darussalam but failed to vote during the past two elections.

Their names have already been deleted from the National Registry of Overseas Absentee Voters (NROAV)/Certified List of Overseas Absentee Voters ((CLOAV).

Those who have previously registered in the Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam and were able to vote during the previous elections need not re-register.

However, they may wish to visit the Embassy to verify if their names are still in the NROAV/CLOAV.

The system of continuing registration for overseas absentee voters (OAV) began on 2 November 2011 and will end on 31 October 2012.

Ambassador Ochoa enumerated the general requirements for those eligible to register and vote during the 2013 general elections:

• All Filipino citizens who will be based abroad during the 2013 general elections, who are at least 18 years of age on 13 May 2013 and are not otherwise disqualified by law;

• Those who have reacquired or retained their Philippine citizenship under RA 9225 and other Filipino citizens with dual citizenship; and

• Immigrants or permanent residents of other countries who are recognized as such in their host countries, who upon filing of an application for registration as an overseas absentee voter, must execute an affidavit stating that he shall resume actual physical permanent residence in the Philippines pursuant to Section 5 of R.A. 9189 and that he has not applied for citizenship in another country.

OFW Rose Rios Talaban, Brunei PE's first Overseas Voter to register for the Overseas Voting scheduled in 2013.

Ambassador Ochoa added that Filipino nationals who wish to register as overseas absentee voters are requested to personally appear at the Consular Section of the Philippine Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan and accomplish OAV Form No. 1 which can be obtained from the Embassy.

The accomplished OAV Form No. 1 will be submitted together with supporting documents (i.e. valid passport or appropriate certification if passport is not available; seaman's book for seafarers).

The applicant will then be asked to submit to biometrics capture (electronic or digital recording of photograph, signature and right thumb mark).

Based on the latest figures provided by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Philippine Embassy Brunei, there are an estimated 25,136 Overseas Filipino Workers and their families based in Brunei Darussalam as of 2011.

During the 2010 general elections, there were a total of 13,424 registered voters in Brunei Darussalam.