Over 29K AFP personnel to cast vote in local absentee polls

More than 29,000 personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are expected to cast their votes ahead of the May 12 midterm elections as the Commission on Election (Comelec) begins the local absentee voting (LAV) for military personnel from April 28 to 30.

The Comelec approved a total of 57,689 LAV voters including 20,030 AFP personnel; 23,448 policemen; 4,206 government employees; and 1,005 members of the media.

Of those from the AFP, more than half – 15,842 personnel – are from the Philippine Army (PA). As they are unable to go in person to the polling sites on the day of the elections because they would render duty to secure the polls, they would have to participate in the three-day LAV.

As such, Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Roy Galido called on the troops to exercise their rights and vote at Fort Bonifacio and key camps nationwide.

“Our role right now in the Army is to prepare the troops and our units in supporting the PNP and the Comelec in this endeavor,” Galido said on Tuesday, April 29.

He also reminded the troops to adhere to non-partisanship throughout the election period.

“All of us are committed because we want this democratic exercise successful…the whole Army is closely coordinating with concerned government agencies to make this election a success,” the Army chief emphasized.

PMA officers, cadets cast votes, too

Military personnel and members of the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines (CCAFP) of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) also began casting their local absentee votes on April 28 at Fort General Gregorio del Pilar in Baguio City.

The Committee on Local Absentee Voting (CLAV) from the Comelec personally delivered the official ballots and other voting paraphernalia to PMA.

A total of 438 personnel and cadets were able to successfully cast their votes for the national election. To ensure that votes are secured, the CLAV representatives briefed PMA personnel on the procedures and the manner of voting.

“The conduct of this activity is an exercise of the right and duty to vote of each member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a responsible citizen of the country. Likewise, the PMA is one with the AFP in ensuring a secure, peaceful, and credible election and is committed to maintaining political neutrality; wherein its personnel are reminded to inhibit themselves from engaging in any political activities or showing any bias toward candidates or political parties,” said PMA spokesperson Lt. Jesse Nestor Saludo.

Securing the elections

In Jolo Sulu, the Army’s 11^th Infantry Division (11ID) participated in the third coordinating conference organized by Comelec–Sulu to ensure the safe, secure, and orderly conduct of the elections.

The military participants led by Maj. Gen. Leonardo Peña, commander of 11ID and Joint Task Force Orion, refined their election security strategies ahead of the polls. The conference was attended by representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Municipal Joint Security Control Centers (MJSCC) from across Sulu.

At Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, the Army’s 6^th Infantry Division (6ID) sent off 400 military personnel to form a composite battalion tasked with safeguarding the elections.

The deployment supplements the earlier reinforcements from the 48th Infantry Battalion, the 1st Armor Company of the Armor Division, and the Marine Battalion Landing Team 6, all mobilized to enhance security measures for the elections.

Brig. Gen. Patricio Ruben Amata, 6ID assistant division commander, emphasized the crucial role of the troops in ensuring a safe, credible, and honest electoral process.

“As you deploy across various brigades, your role is vital in ensuring that the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections are peaceful, orderly, and credible. You will be at the forefront of securing an environment where every Filipino in Central Mindanao can exercise their right to vote — freely, without fear, coercion, and with full trust in the electoral process,” Amata said.