Solons support Comelec decision on early voting for media

Media must vote. In this file photo, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) kicked off its nationwide campaign for voter’s education with a special mock election exercise for the media held at PPCRV Headquarters, Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila.INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Lawmakers on Wednesday lauded the Commission on Election’s decision to grant a petition for early voting for some 200,000 media practitioners.

Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone, a former journalist, said that the Comelec’s decision on Tuesday was “a welcome development. We all know the nature of media work which is very mobile and can’t be compared to a regular office worker.”

He said that the decision on election lawyer Romulo Macalintal’s petition made in behalf of journalists indicated that the Comelec was being “sensitive to the nature of work of newsmen,” adding that it was a laudable move which would provide members of the media their right to suffrage.

This was echoed by Agham Partylist Representative Angelo Palmones, also a former media practitioner, who thanked the Comelec for finally giving the media a way to vote ahead of time before they are sent to cover the elections.