CAMP NAKAR, Lucena City – At least 2,945 soldiers who are deployed in the different areas of the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) cast their votes through the local absentee voting (LAV) which started last April 28 and ended April 30 in various designated camps in Southern Luzon, a military officer here said.

Col. Generoso L. Bolina, Solcom spokesperson, said that at least eight soldiers started casting their votes at 8:30 a.m. on Friday at Solcom’s covered court here, the designated polling center, 36 soldiers from the 9th Infantry Division grandstand at Camp Elias Pili, Camarines Sur, and 135 soldiers from 2nd Infantry Division at Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal. The total votes cast reached 2,945 votes in the whole of Southern Luzon.

“There are also several other designated polling places mostly inside their patrol bases in Southern Luzon and Bicol regions where soldiers can cast their votes, the last day of the ballot casting on Friday, Bolina said.

Solcom commanding general Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali said the coordination with Commission on Elections authorities in the region is excellent and the soldiers are given the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.

“I availed of the local absentee voting because I wish to exercise my right of suffrage and wish to contribute to the future of the country. I wish to take part in the electoral process and count my vote in the selection of our leaders who shall chart the course of our destiny,” said Maj. Philip C Turaray, dental officer assigned in Solcom, but he is a registered voter in Pasig.

Military personnel who are detailed for election duties outside their polling registration center are covered by the local absentee voting. Under Comelec guidelines, local absentee voters will use manual ballots and they are only allowed to vote for national elective positions, Bolina added.

The local absentee voting was supervised by lawyer Annie Laceda, Comelec-Lucena City supervisor.