PRESIDENT MARCOS VOTES IN BATAC, ILOCOS NORTE

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday joined the estimated 70 million registered voters in casting his ballot for the 2025 midterm elections.

President Marcos arrived at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, at 7:08 a.m. to cast his ballot in Precinct Number 36-A, along with his mother, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, and sister Irene Marcos-Araneta.

Just like an ordinary registered voter, President Marcos lined up and received his ballot from a teacher serving as an election officer.

Seated and preparing to shade his ballot, the President glanced out the window and smiled at other voters outside his assigned polling precinct. He completed shading the names of the candidates of his choice in about three minutes.

As he prepared to insert his ballot into the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machine to complete the voting process, President Marcos once again waved to the crowd outside the classroom serving as a polling precinct.

President Marcos even reviewed the receipt from the PCOS machine to ensure his votes were accurately reflected.

An election officer then put indelible ink on his right index finger, which he showed to those outside the polling precinct, including cameramen, signifying that he had officially cast his vote.

The President chatted with some voters outside the polling precincts and the school compound.

Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos also joined the President in Batac.

In a video message posted on his official social media account on Sunday, President Marcos urged Filipinos to exercise their right to vote responsibly and protect the integrity of the country’s democratic process.

The President said the midterm elections are both a right and a duty of every Filipino citizen and an opportunity for every voice to be heard and for aspirations for a better nation.

There a total of 18,280 seats covering 14 different posts from senators to municipal councilors are at stake.

“Mga kababayan, ngayon halalan gamitin natin ang ating karapatan at gampanan ang ating pananamayang Pilipino,” the President said.

“Isang pagkakataon ito para marinig ang boses ng bawat isa at maipahayag ang mga pangarap na mahalaga sa inyo at sa bayan,”  he added.