MANDAUE COPS AMONG EARLY BIRDS IN ABSENTEE VOTING

THE local absentee voting has begun on Monday, April 29, for government workers who will not be able to vote in their polling precincts during the May 13 election.

In Mandaue City, the voting was held at the Mandaue City Police Office for police personnel who were able to register.

Among the early birds at the voting area was Police Chief Master Sergeant Froilan Gomez, a resident and registered voter of Carmen town.

For Gomez, it was important that he gets to vote even for national positions only, knowing that the result of the mid-term polls will have an impact on the future of his children.

“Ni-avail lang ko, tungod sa akong mga anak ba, para ugma, ilang mapupo ang akong gusto nga akong botaran, kinsa akong gituohan nga makatabang alang sa paglambo, makahatag og kaayo sa atong nasud (I wanted to avail myself of this privilege because of my children, so that in the future, they will know that who I voted for will help improve and do good for our country),” Gomez told Superbalita Cebu.

Gomez is among the 45 MCPO personnel who were given a chance to participate in the elections as absentee voters.

In an interview on Monday, Jacqueline Reuyan, Mandaue City’s assistant election officer, said 56 policemen applied to be allowed to vote ahead of the mid-term elections but 11 of them were not able to comply with the requirements.

The absentee voting will continue until Wednesday, May 1.

According to Commission on Elections (Comelec) rules, those who are eligible to participate in the local absentee voting are government workers, including personnel of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Coast Guard and other military units.

They were given the privilege because they are expected to be on duty on Election Day.

Members of the media who are registered voters were also allowed to cast their votes for national positions in advance.

Based on Comelec Resolution 10443, local absentee voters can cast their votes from April 29 to May 1, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in designated voting areas identified by local poll offices.

Absentee voters can only vote for senators and Party-list groups.

A total of 35,000 applications for local absentee voting were received by the Comelec this year. /