Western Mindanao Command troops cast votes in midterm polls

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — At least 3,397 officers and personnel of the military Western Mindanao Command have taken part in absentee voting for the May 13 midterm elections.

Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Westmincom chief, led the voting at the command's headquarters on Tuesday. Dela Vega was joined by Brig. Gen. Cirilo Thomas Donato (deputy commanders for administration) and Brig. Gen. Generoso Ponio (deputy commanders for operations), Col. Leonardo Peña, who is chief of Unified Command Staff. 

Absentee voting allows people like police and military personnel who cannot be at their places of voter registration on election day because of their duties to participate in the polls. 

"We are glad for one, we are able to cast our votes, we are able to exercise our right to suffrage and that is the only part of the election period when we are able to practice partisanship," Dela Vega said after casting his vote.

At least 3,384 soldiers had earlier cast their votes in the different Westmincom joint task forces in Central Mindanao, Lanao, and the Zamboanga Peninsula. The numbers of those who participated in absentee voting in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi have yet to be collated.

"Now that the soldiers have voted, their focus will be on the accomplishment of their mission that is to make the 2019 midterm elections free, honest, credible, orderly and peaceful," dela Vega said.

The Westmincom chief all joint task forces have been prepared to secure the elections "but also maintain a very high level of the preparedness and readiness in the conduct of military operations in our area of responsibility."