SOME 689 cops participated in the early voting program of the Commission on Election (Comelec) in Negros Occidental on Thursday, May 2.

Police Major Edison Garcia, Public Information Officer of the Negros Occidental Provincial Office said of the 746 registered absentee voters in the province, only 689 policemen exercised their right to suffrage ahead of the midterm elections on May 13.

The local absentee voting started on April 29 up to May 1.

Garcia said the policemen are set to serve in the elections to maintain peace and order in the coming elections.

Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10443, the Local Absentee Voting (LAV) period will be from April 29, 30 and May 1, 2019 for government officials and personnel, members of the military and the police and media practitioners who are expected to be on duty on election day.

“Local absentee voters shall vote on any day from April 29, 30, and May 1 from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon,” the poll body said.

The said voters are allowed to vote ahead of the rest of the country for the positions of senators and party-list organizations.