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Armless voter gets indelible ink on toenail
With no hands, 49-year-old Nelson Nuñez casts his vote in Aparri, Cagayan. Photo by John Consulta
(Updated 3:30 p.m.) Voter Nelson Nuñez was one of millions who cast their ballots on May 13, but just one of a handful who got indelible ink not on a fingernail but on a toenail.
Nuñez lost both his arms in a workplace accident and was among the thousands of disabled voters who trooped to polling centers on Monday, many of them beneficiaries of a Comelec campaign to register disabled citizens to vote.
He has learned to write with what was left of his upper arms, and that's how he filled out his ballot.
It was Nuñez's first time to vote in an automated election, and his excitement was palpable, GMA News' John Consulta reported.
Nuñez lost both his arms in a workplace accident and was among the thousands of disabled voters who trooped to polling centers on Monday, many of them beneficiaries of a Comelec campaign to register disabled citizens to vote.
He has learned to write with what was left of his upper arms, and that's how he filled out his ballot.
It was Nuñez's first time to vote in an automated election, and his excitement was palpable, GMA News' John Consulta reported.
Upon arriving at the school in Aparri, Cagayan, the 49-year-old Nuñez immediately looked for his assigned precinct. Like other voters, Nuñez prepared a list so he could quickly complete the voting process. After Nuñez submitted his ballot, indelible ink was placed on his right big toenail.
Proud to have fulfilled his civic duty, Nuñez said he wanted to be an example for other PWDs and not let his condition stop him from exercising his right to vote.
Disabled voters turn out
Disabled voters turn out
Meanwhile in Makati, 30-year-old Niño Aguirre headed to Pembo Elementary School and overcame his own challenges to cast his vote. Aguirre reached his precinct on board a skateboard, his main form of transport after losing both his legs, GMA News' Isay Reyes reported.
In Cainta, Rizal, PWD residents of Tahanang Walang Hagdanan were assisted by election officers as they cast their votes at the Marick Elementary School.
Using a plastic stool as a makeshift leg, 70-year-old Magdalena Datono cast her vote at the Pres. Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Quezon City.
In Quezon City, Magdalena Datono cast her vote, despite only having one leg. The 70-year-old fell in line using a plastic stool to help her walk, GMA News' Joseph Morong reported on Monday afternoon.
"Para makinabang sila sa akin, ako makinabang din sa kanila," a smiling Datono said when asked why she continues to vote.
Some PWD volunteers were also deployed to polling centers, according to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.
Last year, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued Resolution No. 9485 to make voting easier for PWDs. As of June 2012, Comelec said there were at least 24,573 PWDs who registered and updated their records.
That would only be six percent of the estimated 400,000 Filipino PWDs are eligible to vote, according to Fully Abled Nation, a Disability-Inclusive Elections initiative.
That would only be six percent of the estimated 400,000 Filipino PWDs are eligible to vote, according to Fully Abled Nation, a Disability-Inclusive Elections initiative.
Also in 2012, Comelec set August 11 as National PWD Voter Registration Day to encourage PWDs to register for the 2013 elections. – Carmela G. Lapeña/HS, GMA News
