THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has received the reply of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on its request to allow the 2022 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) bound athletes, coaches, and delegates to vote under the Local Absentee Voting provision for the 2022 National Elections.
The Comelec has politely turned down the proposal citing the Omnibus Election Code, Executive Order No. 157, Republic Acts 7166 and 10380 and Comelec Resolution No. 10725, which states that only four personnel from four groups may avail of local absentee voting. Government officials and employees, members of the Philippine National Police, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are assigned in places where they are not registered voters may be covered by this privilege. Members of the media who are covering or reporting the conduct of the elections may likewise be covered.
The Comelec letter informed that since the athletes, coaches and delegates are not part of the aforementioned groups who will be performing election duties they cannot act upon the PSC’s request.
While this is sad news for all concerned, the PSC Board respects the Comelec’s advice. Only national athletes who are also military personnel or fall under any of the other categories mentioned above may register for Local Absentee Voting.