Aquino signs into law absentee voting for media

President Benigno Aquino III has signed into law Republic Act No. 10380 or "An Act Providing for Local Absentee Voting for Media."

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a press briefing, said RA 10380 was signed by the President on Thursday.

"'Yung pertinent provisions lang po nito ay pwede na po 'yung mga kasamahan po natin – hindi lang po 'yung mga reporter, pati po 'yung mga technical staff – na meron ho by reason of their functions, meron po ngayong trabaho sa araw ng eleksyon, ay pwede po kayong bumoto para doon sa posisyon ng President, Vice President, senators, and party-list representatives," she said.

Valte said the Commission on Election, within 30 days of the signing of this law, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations.

"Kasama po doon sa pag-balangkas 'nung IRR, ay 'yung system of accreditation and verification ng mga miyembro ng media, 'yung mga media practitioners, technical and support staff na magiging kwalipikado para mag-avail 'nung local absentee voting," she explained.

"Marami ho tayong mga kasamahan sa media na ang hinaing nga po nila ay hindi sila nakakaboto dahil nga naman nagko-cover po sila usually kapag araw po ng eleksyon. So finally, may pagkakataon na po kayo. Let's take advantage of the new law so you can exercise your right to vote," she said.

The new law provides for absentee voting by the members of media who are away from the places of their registration by reason of official functions on election day. (PNA)