Palace to overseas voters: Choose wisely, pick bets who won’t sell PH

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro reminded overseas voters to see the act of voting as a patriotic duty, not a transaction. (File Photo: Office for Overseas Voting PH/Facebook)

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Malacañang on Monday urged overseas Filipinos to vote with integrity and choose only leaders who will not sell the Philippines as overseas voting for the 2025 midterm elections kicked off.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro reminded overseas voters to see the act of voting as a patriotic duty, not a transaction.

“Ang ating mensahe po mula po sa Palasyo ay gampanan niyo po ang inyong tungkulin bilang isang Pilipino. Bumoto po kayo ng nararapat. Bumoto po mula sa puso (The message of the Palace is fulfill your duty as a Filipino. Vote those who are deserving. Vote from your heart),” Castro said.

She warned against being swayed by money or whispers, saying voters must reject candidates who would put personal gain over national interest.

“Huwag pong bumoto dahil lamang sa bulong o dahil kayo ay nabayaran kundi iboto niyo po ang mga taong nararapat. Iyong maaasahan po natin. Mga lider na hindi ibebenta ang bansa kahit sa anumang paraan at mga lider na makabayan (Don’t vote just because you are influenced or you have been bought, elect deserving leaders. Those we can rely on. Those leaders who won’t sell the country in whatever wat and those leaders who are patriotic),” she added.

She expressed confidence in the Commission on Elections’ handling of the month-long online voting period, which began Sunday and would end 7 p.m. on May 12, election day in the Philippines.

“Sana po mas maging maayos po ito at dahil po ito ay mas mapapabilis po ang pamamaraan ng pagboto ng ating mga kababayan (We are hoping that this will go as smoothly as possible and this is a way for our countrymen to vote easier),” Castro said.

Over 1.8 million overseas Filipinos are eligible to vote for 12 senators and a party-list.

In the 2022 polls, only 40.59 percent of registered overseas Filipino voters participated but was recorded as the highest voter turnout so far.