Leni rues low voter turnout, cites key role of village execs

The low voter turnout caught the attention of Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday when she cast her vote at Tabuco Central School in Naga City for the village and Sangguniang Kabataang (SK) elections.

Wearing a maroon blouse and denim pants, Robredo arrived at the polling precinct at around 9:50 a.m., but it only took her less than 10 minutes to vote.

She was accompanied by her daughter Tricia.

They did not wait long in line alongside other voters because Robredo claimed there were not many voters compared to the last presidential elections and 2013 local elections.

“Halos walang pila; kulang iyong botante. Medyo nakakalungkot na mas kaunti iyong interesadong magparticipate sa barangay elections (There was hardly a queue, not enough voters. It is saddening that very few are interested to participate in the barangay elections),” Robredo, a lawyer, told reporters in Naga City.

“Baka kailangan nating ipaalala na isa ito sa pinakamahalagang eleksyon natin, dahil iyong barangay naman iyon iyong pinakaunang dinudulugan ng tao (We may have to remind [everyone] that this is one of the most important elections because the barangay is where the people first turn to),” the Vice President added.

Polling precincts in nearly 42,000 villages across the country opened as early as 7 a.m. for this year’s village and SK elections.

Registered voters were allowed to cast their vote until 3 p.m.