CISTERNA DI LATINA, Italy – Filipinos based in Cisterna di Latina are not in favor of some groups’ appeal to boycott the Philippine presidential election this coming May.

“Ang pagbo-boycott ay hindi ako sang-ayon, boboto tayo. Karapatan natin iyon. Maging wise tayo at bantayan natin ang ating iboboto. Dapat maging vigilant tayo," said Felipe Contado, president of the Filipino community of Cisterna di Latina.

The group is encouraging Filipino registrants in Italy and Pinoys in other parts of the world to use their right of suffrage.  

They believe that the opportunity to vote in an election is a powerful and effective way to prevent undeserving politicians from being elected in office.

“Hindi ako pabor sa pag-boycott dahil ang pagboto kung natatandaan ng mga Pilipino, ang tanging armas upang ang ating karapatan ay maipakita sa gobyerno. Malalabanan natin ang gobyernong hindi karapat-dapat sa atin at maitayo natin ang mga taong nararapat sa atin na mamuno sa ating bansa,” said Jose Dimaunahan, the group’s peace and order chairman.

“Siyempre, ibig ko din ang pagbabago ng gobyerno. Ang pamamalakad sa gobyerno, siguro para sa akin iyong nalalaman ko ang taong dapat na mamuno sa gobyerno ang siyang aking iboboto," said Salome Villa, coordinator of the Filipino Catholic Organization of Cisterna.

Recently, OFWs in Rome had planned to boycott the OAV after their appeal to retain Philippe Lhuillier as Philippine Ambassador to Italy was not approved by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

In Spain, Pinoy drivers also encouraged other Filipino migrants in Europe to boycott the election after they received no word from President Arroyo regarding their request for their international license.