By Ging Reyes, North America News Bureau Chief
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WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Ed Royce presented Philippine President Gloria Arroyo with the Teddy Roosevelt International Conservation Award Tuesday night. At a dinner after the event, the Republican congressman told the president about his concerns on possible fraud in the upcoming automated elections. Royce also cautioned the president about worries of Fil-Am voters that their absentee ballots won’t be counted.

“What I’m trying to do is to engage on these issues, express the concerns of Filipino Americans, make certain that the Embassy’s aware of it, that the President’s aware of it,” Royce said. “Find out what steps are being taken—we’ve got a team that had been invited so I’m just doing the due diligence to see what steps we can take.”

Royce says Arroyo assured him of the efficiency and transparency in the absentee voting process. Royce represents California’s 40th district, which includes Orange County, where many Filipinos live. He’s also a senior member of the House Subcommittee on Asia.

Other US lawmakers have voiced concerns about the upcoming Philippine presidential elections, especially after Fil-Am businesswoman Loida Nicolas Lewis met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and told her about the need to send top-level election monitors to the Philippines.

The US is sending an observer team from the National Democratic Institute to monitor the Philippine elections, which Congressman Royce says could deter cheating.

“The NDI is going to go over and be involved in the Philippine election process, so there are monitors that are involved and I think that’s going to be part of what will bring about more transparency,” Royce said.

An NDI delegation that visited the Philippines recently said more work was needed to gain public trust in the new voting machines.

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