BY: CHARLES NIKKO LIMON
More than a hundred police officers in Baguio City cast their votes early for the 2025 national elections as part of the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) local absentee voting (LAV) initiative.
Among them was Patrolwoman Genevy Diego, a registered voter from Buguias, Benguet.
Since she will be deployed to secure precincts on election day, she opted to vote early.
“We’re also the ones ensuring security during the elections. It’s better this way because after voting, we can focus on our duties,” Diego explained.
Though it was her first time voting through LAV, she said the process was smooth, “It actually saved time and allowed me to return to duty quickly.”
Diego was among 116 police personnel who voted on April 28 at the Baguio City Police Office.
COMELEC Baguio Election Officer Atty. John Paul Martin explained the purpose of the system.
“This is for government officials, AFP and PNP members, and media workers who have election duties and won’t be able to vote in their registered precincts,” Martin said.
Unlike regular election ballots, LAV ballots only include candidates for national positions—senators and partylist groups.
The ballots are sealed and sent to the COMELEC committee in Manila for counting on election day.
Media personnel also took part, including Grace Doctolero of UNTV, who said, “I’m registered here in Baguio, but I’m usually assigned to other provinces during elections, so I miss the chance to vote. This is a good alternative.”
In addition to the BCPO, LAV was conducted at the Philippine Military Academy and the Tactical Operations Group 1 of the Philippine Air Force.
Of the 470 PMA cadets and personnel and 34 Air Force applicants, 41 failed to vote—most of them deployed to Mindanao or abroad for the Balikatan Exercises.
COMELEC reported a total of 620 LAV applicants in Baguio.
The voting period runs from April 28 to April 30.
