3ID troopers register for the 2007 elections
JAMINDAN, CAPIZ--Paying heed to the call of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon, all 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army personnel were required to register with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in connection with the forthcoming election on May 14, 2007.
As of this date, 90% of qualified voters composed of 3ID personnel have already registered while the remaining 10% are expected to register before the deadline on Dec 31, 2006 in the Comelec offices near their area of assignment.
This is to allow the individual personnel to exercise their right to vote in the coming elections.
Meanwhile, Army spokesperson Maj. Ernesto Torres, Jr., allayed fears that the call for the soldiers to register early in the coming elections has political undertones.
"The army leadership fully understands the need for soldiers to be non-partisan. There is nothing sinister with soldiers registering to vote in elections because this is guaranteed constitutional right of every qualified Filipino voter," Maj. Torres said, giving an assurance that the Philippine Army will not engage in partisan politics.