Noy OKs absentee voting for media

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has signed Republic Act No. 10380 or the Act Providing for Local Absentee Voting for Media to ensure that journalists as well as technical and support staff will be able to exercise their right to vote despite the schedule and demands of their work.

Under the law, media practitioners and other personnel can vote for president, vice president, senators and party-list representatives.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Commission on Elections, within 30 days from the effectivity of the law, would have to promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

The IRR will include the system of accreditation and verification of the media practitioners and the technical and support staff who would qualify for absentee voting.

Valte said the President signed the law on Thursday and the copies were transmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The law was a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1198 and House Bill No. 4241 passed by Congress last Jan. 22.

Valte urged members of media to take advantage of the opportunity to vote.

She said a lot of media practitioners had been complaining that they could not vote in their respective localities because of their news coverage duties on election day.

“So we encourage everybody to (make use of the law)...Finally, you have the opportunity. Let’s take advantage of the new law so you can exercise your right to vote,” Valte said.