MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes will cast his ballot today, two weeks ahead of the May 13 elections.
“I already have my list on whom to write in my ballot,” he said. “So far, I already have seven candidates for senator in my list.”
Brillantes will vote at the Comelec-National Capital Region office in Intramuros.
He did not identify his chosen candidates.
Brillantes said he is normally unable to complete the 12 slots for senators.
He will still vote for the party-list that he has long ago chosen, he added.
Brillantes hopes for a high 70 percent turnout from the 18,332 registered local absentee voters, including 575 media practitioners.
“The military and the police are really being encouraged by their superiors, while government employees have been steady and normal,” he said. “As for media men, we expect it to be high since this is the first time it would happen.”
The local absentee voting period began yesterday and will end tomorrow.
Members of the Armed Forces, Philippine National Police (PNP), and other government officials and employees performing election duties are allowed to vote early.
For the first time, members of the media are also allowed to participate in the local absentee voting.
Voter turnout has been about 50 to 60 percent for local absentee voting in past elections.
Local absentee voters can only vote for 12 senators and party-list using the manual system.
Policemen on duty on election day can avail of absentee voting in Camp Crame, Quezon City starting today.
It will be held at the Multi-Purpose Hall in Camp Crame from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In the 2010 elections, the PNP reported 871 policemen availed of local absentee voting on the first two days. – Mayen Jaymalin, Cecille Suerte Felipe
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