CADETS’ VOICE Through the supervision of the Commission on Elections, cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City fill out their ballots on Wednesday as they participate in the local absentee voting ahead of the May 9 national elections. The poll body set up a polling center for the manual voting at the PMA’s Fort del Pilar. —EV ESPIRITU | PHOTO: Philippine Military Academy “Face-Bok” facebook page
BAGUIO CITY, Benguet, Philippines — No candidates in the 2022 national and local elections were allowed to campaign inside the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), which remains neutral ground like other camps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
But armed with information about aspiring leaders that was sourced through mainstream media and online sources, 177 cadets were able to cast their votes alongside 37 of their instructors and military personnel during the first day of the local absentee voting held inside Fort del Pilar here.
Many of these cadets are registered voters in the Visayas and Mindanao, and other areas that are far from the academy, said PMA spokesperson 1st Lt. Christine Mae Calima.
The cadets and PMA officials filled out their ballots at Longayban Hall, under the supervision of the Commission on Elections and the Office of the Assistant Chief of Academy Staff for Personnel.
“The cadets have personal laptops and can conduct their own research of candidates vying for various posts in this election … They are aware of all issues,” Calima told the Inquirer.
In class discussions or debates, cadets have expressed their views on current events and topics like sovereignty and the West Philippine Sea, she said.
Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who are both seeking the presidency, visited the PMA in December last year but in their official capacities as elected officials, Calima said, adding that they never made any references to their candidacies.
In Palawan province, 1,071 soldiers, policemen, government employees and media workers also joined the first day of local absentee voting on Wednesday.
A polling center at the Puerto Princesa City police office in Barangay San Pedro was assigned to policemen who would be deployed throughout the province on Election Day.