The Philippine National Police (PNP) called on Sunday all its personnel to avail of the absentee voting privilege extended by the Commission on Elections (comelec) to them on April 28, saying they might end up not exercising they right to suffrage if they fail to do so as they will all be busy for election duties on May 10.

Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman, specifically addressed the call to members of their elite forces such as the Special Action Force (SAF) and Provincial and Regional Mobile Groups who will be at the forefront of election security duties.

"I urge our fellow policemen to avail of our right to suffrage, this is the reason why the Comelec gave us the opportunity to vote early because we will certainly all busy come May 10," said Espina.

But Espina said they still have no idea if those who will avail of the absentee voting will have a chance to use the automated election system.

All they know, he said, is that voters will only be given a chance to vote for national candidates, from president to senatorial candidates, during the absentee voting day for policemen on April 28 in major police camps across the country.

"It's up for the Comelec to decide on whether or not it would be manual elections for us," said Espina.