Vice President Leni Robredo lines up and patiently waits for her turn to vote at the Carangcang Elementary School in Magarao town in Camarines Sur at 10:40 a.m. on Monday, nearly an hour since she arrived at her voting precinct at 9:55 a.m. (MICHAEL JAUCIAN)
MAGARAO, Camarines Sur, Philippines 鈥� Clad in a bright blue blouse with only a salmon pink facemask to indicate her campaign color, presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo came to Carangcang Elementary School in this town to vote on Monday.
But unlike some prominent political candidates in the national and local elections of 2022, Robredo opted to wait in line for almost two hours alongside the other voters.
Robredo arrived at 9:55 a.m. on board a white van with just a small group of security personnel and supporters.
After waiting in line, Robredo entered her polling precinct, shaded her choices then exited the building at 11:47 a.m.
Robredo then faced the media who have been waiting outside for her since 4 a.m. to deliver a short talk.
She said she was elated and satisfied that she had the chance to personally vote in her village and that the balloting process in her precinct turned out well.
鈥淔inally the campaign period is over. I am happy that I was given the chance to do it and proved that it can be done without doing anything bad. I came here in the polling precinct with a content and tranquil heart that what we achieved was more than we expected,鈥� she said.
Be vigilant
She said the election process must run smoothly amid reports of vote counting machine glitches and violence erupting in other areas in the country.
鈥淲e have put up hotlines that are accessible and can be called anytime. There are also lawyers on standby to assist for any complaints or irregularities that may arise outside the north,鈥� she told the press, referring to the recent spate of election-related violence in Northern Luzon.
She said that troublesome incidents happening around the country should be reported as soon as possible to authorities and should be documented.
She reminded the voting public to be vigilant during the casting and counting of votes.
Several foreign journalists and observers from different embassies also flocked to Carangcang Elementary School here to witness Robredo cast her vote.
Robredo鈥檚 two daughters, Aika and Tricia, voted earlier in the day at the Tabuco Central School in Naga City while her youngest daughter Jillian, a scholar who will be graduating from New York University later this May, had already cast her vote during overseas absentee voting last month.
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