Elderly citizens showed commitment to upholding the country's democracy as they were among the first to exercise their right to suffrage in Monday's midterm elections.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has designated early voting hours for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. for them to avoid long queues in exercising their constitutional right during the regular voting hours until 7 p.m.
Widow Eva Alejo, 63, was among the first in her family to vote at their polling precinct at Muzon Elementary School, in Barangay Muzon, Malabon City.
Alejo hailed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the provision that allowed senior citizens like her to cast their ballots ahead of younger and more energetic voters.
"Mas madali kasi inuuna ang mga seniors, hindi magulo (it is much easier, as they allowed the senior citizens to go first)," she said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.
While she did not name the candidates she voted for, Alejo said she believes these aspirants would do their best in leading the nation.
Meanwhile, Armando Fernandez Jr., 67, and also of the same voting precinct, lauded the decision of the Comelec to let senior citizens like himself go ahead of the line. He added that this is a good time-saving measure for the seniors.
Fernandez said he voted for politicians he considered "underdogs" or those with a minimum chance of winning.
He does this to even up the odds a little, he added.
As this developed, Marilyn Eder, 65, and a resident of Barangay New Lower Bicutan, Taguig City said candidates who have expressed interest in the welfare of her fellow senior citizens got her vote.
She also hailed the Comelec for making it easy for seniors like her to vote, although she had a hard time climbing up the steep stairs of the Taguig National High School where her voting precinct is located.
Romita Zabandal, 76, also of the same voting district, declined to give reporters an idea whom she voted for, preferring to keep their identities secret.
However, she believes that once these people are elected, they can do a lot to help the country and its people.
Nicolas Balutian, 76, a resident of Barangay New Lower Bicutan, said he initially encountered difficulty as he could not find his name on the certified voters' list. However, he persevered and was able to cast his ballot.
Regarding his choices, Balutian said he opted to vote for "old time politicians" or the incumbents due to their track records.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said there 159 liquor ban violators nabbed so far.
As this developed, the PNP on Monday announced that 159 persons were arrested for violating the two-day liquor ban in effect from May 11 to 12.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, in a message to reporters, said these could be broken down into 63 for Eastern Visayas, while 32 each were nabbed in the Negros Island Region and the Mindoro Marinduque Rombon, Palawan Region. In Metro Manila, 19 violators were arrested. (with reporters from Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)