2,000 Soldiers Vote in 3-day Local Absentee Voting

MASBATE CITY, April 29 -- At least 2,000 soldiers assigned in the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army cast their votes for their preferred national candidates during the three-day local absentee voting which started Thursday in various designated camps around Bikol Region, a military officer said.

Major Harold M. Cabunoc, division spokesperson, said that these soldiers are expected to avail of this rare opportunity to vote for their choice national candidates.

Soldiers from various infantry brigades started casting their votes at round 8 a.m. today in a makeshift "polling center" located in designated voting center.

"There are also several other designated polling places around Bicol where soldiers can cast their votes in the next three days, our soldiers are given the opportunity to exercise their right to vote," said Cabunoc.

Some of the soldiers who cast their votes are first-time voters among them is 2nd Lt. Marie Christine Samson, 23, a military nurse and a registered voter of San Mateo, Rizal.

"I availed of the local absentee voting because I want to help elect my preferred presidential candidate. My father is a retired soldier so we are united in supporting our trusted candidate," she said.

Military personnel who are detailed for election duties outside their polling registration center are covered by the local absentee voting. Under the Commission on Elections (Comelec) guidelines, local absentee voters will use manual ballots and they are only allowed to vote for national elective positions.

The local absentee voting in the 9th ID camp is being supervised by lawyer Fatima Gados, a representative from Comelec. (PNA)