ILOILO CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged registered voters not to wait for the 3 p.m. deadline and rush to polling centers to cast their votes on Monday.
Comelec Iloilo provincial director lawyer Elizabeth Doronila made the call as polling precincts opened as early as 7 a.m. today.
“Let’s make every vote count,” she said.
She again reiterated that voters be cautious when casting votes, especially those aged 18-30 years old who will be given two sets of ballots, for SK and Barangay.
She said that SK ballots, printed in red, will be given to voters 15 years to below 18 years old. Barangay ballots are printed in black for voters with age ranging from 18 years old and above.
Comelec has registered 4,475,949 regular voters and 1,588,499 SK voters who are expected to cast votes in 29,131 barangay voting precincts and 28,752 SK precincts all over Western Visayas.
The Comelec official also reminded voters not to accept money from candidates. She cited that the money they receive can be spent in just a day but they will be suffering for years until the next set of officials is chosen.
She urged them to vote wisely and choose those with good intentions.
Meantime, Iloilo City Assistant Election Officer Jonathan Sayno said that as of this time the conduct of elections is “peaceful”. Around 75 percent of the more or less 272, 600 voters in the city are expected to cast their votes this May 14.
In an earlier interview, Governor Samuel Gumarin of Guimaras, who is also the chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council, urged voters to be responsible in exercising their right to suffrage.
“Hopefully it will be fair and peaceful as we conduct the elections,” he said.
He added that the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies are ready to ensure the orderly conduct of elections.(Perla Lena/PNA)
