PANACAN, DAVAO CITY—Soldiers in Davao region began casting their votes as part of the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) local absentee voting (LAV).
Around 1,000 soldiers in Davao region will be casting their votes in a three-day scheduled absentee voting starting April 28 and ending on April 30. In the Army’s Division Headquarters in Davao City, 70 out of the 83 soldiers who applied for LAV were approved and casted their votes inside the enlisted personnel’s barracks supervised by Comelec representatives.
All other soldiers will be casting their votes in other camps region-wide in the three-day LAV schedule. Under the provisions of the LAV, soldiers who availed of it will only get to vote for candidates seeking national elective posts and one partylist.
“This is a great opportunity for our soldiers to exercise their right to vote as citizens of the republic and we don’t want to miss this chance. For us, this is an opportunity and a responsibility.” Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division said.
Absentee voting was enacted to Filipinos working locally and abroad, who cannot go to their respective polling precincts during elections due to the nature of their work, an opportunity to vote. These includes isoldiers, teachers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Some soldiers in Davao Region will be detailed to secure polling areas particularly in places where armed groups are known to be operating. As part of the preparation, soldiers have spearheaded moves to make the coming May polls peaceful.
Last week, soldiers and Comelec officials in the Compostela Valley (ComVal) Province spearheaded a peace rally for Honest Orderly and Peaceful Elections (Hope) held at the municipal park in Poblacion in Pantukan town. A similar peace rally for Hope hosted by soldiers was also held in Maco town also in ComVal province earlier.
The peace rallies drew overwhelming support and cooperation from thousands of local residents, candidates, employees of local government units (LGUs), and members of non-government organizations and people’s organizations. The groups called for and agreed to a violence-free election in the province. (PIA)
IMPORTANT NOTICE: INBOX is an archive of press releases, statements, announcements, letters to the editors, and manifestos sent to Davao Today for publication. Please email your materials to davaotoday@gmail.com. Davao Today is not responsible for the content of these materials. The opinion expessed in these items does not reflect those of Davao Today and its staff. Please refer to our terms of use/disclaimer.
