Octogenarian loses chance to vote
Among those in the long line of voters who came early to cast their votes on Monday was 80-year-old Flaviano Palomar, who, despite the tedious effort he had to muster to go to the polling precinct, was still unable to cast his vote.
Palomar, a resident of Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City, went to the Pasay West High School alone despite his difficulty in walking and reading due to his advanced age.
With his trembling hands eager to vote, he showed the volunteers his voter's certificate dated February 2014 where he was registered under Precinct 0315.
Efforts of the volunteers to locate his name turned futile but Palomar insisted that he voted there last 2016.
"Dito ako sa dulo eh. Hindi ako nakaboto nung local pero nakaboto ako last presidential elections (I was here [precinct] when I voted. I was unable to locate vote during the local elections but I voted during the presidential elections,)" he argued.
After verifying with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Office, it turned out that Palomar registered again after moving to Cavite.
Comelec officers explained that he will be unable to vote this elections. "Hindi namin pwede galawin yung system ngayon (We cannot interfere with the system now,)" they explained.
Due to the incident, Palomar went home without casting his vote.
In the meantime, police continued to patrol the area within the polling precincts since there were those who were distributing sample ballots and other campaign materials to voters.