By Ferdinand Patinio | Philippine News Agency
MANILA – An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday (Jan. 21) said those who are not interested in casting their votes on May 9 should reconsider their plans.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the public, especially registered voters, should exercise their right to suffrage for their voices to be heard.
“You’re not voting [because] you think the politicians are all alike anyway? Think about this: If you don’t vote to change things, then things won’t change. #votesafepilipinas,” he said in a post on his Twitter account, @jabjimenez.
Jimenez’s remarks were in response to some comments that no matter who they support or vote in the elections, they feel things will not change.
Jimenez said people should not complain if they will not try to do anything to solve this issue.
“Then there is no point in complaining, is there? If you don’t punch thru the frustration and do something to try to solve the problem, then you’re part of the problem. Just whiny,” he said.
The electorate will vote for the country’s new leaders including the president and vice-president in the May 9 polls.
So far, there are 10 and nine aspirants for presidential and vice presidential posts, respectively, based on the tentative list of aspirants/candidates posted on the Comelec website, www.comelec.gov.ph, as of January 19.
Also, the Filipinos will be electing 12 senators and 63 seats for party-list representatives.
For the local positions, there are 253 district representatives, 81 governors, 81 vice governors, 782 provincial board members, 146 city mayors, 146 city vice mayors, 1,650 city councilors, 1,488 municipal mayors, 1,488 municipal vice mayors, and 11,908 municipal councilors.
The available positions for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) polls are 40 party representatives, 32 parliamentary district representatives, and eight reserved and sectoral representatives. (PNA) -ag
