First-time Voter Travels Five Hours to Exercise His Right to Vote

PHNOM PENH, 13 April 2019 – Overseas voting for the 2019 Philippine National Elections officially commenced today, 13 April 2019, at exactly 8:00 AM at the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh’s Sentro Rizal.

Voting for the first time, nineteen year old Jeriko Feliciano A. Enriquez IV was the first voter, casting his ballot at 8:15 am today, together with his parents, Mrs. Ma. Teresa A. Enriquez and Mr. Feliciano G. Enriquez III. The family, residing in Cambodia for 18 years, drove for five (5) hours all the way from Siem Reap to cast their votes at the first day of overseas voting.

When asked what he felt after voting, he said, “I feel happy and proud to exercise my right to vote for the first time, knowing that I am making a difference in the future of the Philippines and Filipinos.” A second year student at the American University of Phnom Penh taking up Bachelor of Arts in Law, Jeriko dreams of being a Philippine diplomat and assisting Filipinos overseas as he fully understands the plight of Filipinos abroad.

At present, there are a total of 2,082 registered overseas Filipino voters in Cambodia.

“The Embassy strongly encourages all registered overseas Filipino voters in Cambodia to exercise their right to suffrage,” Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Christopher B. Montero emphasized. “Overseas voting period will continuously be held daily, including weekends and holidays, until 13 May 2019, 5:00 pm (Cambodia time),” he added. END