Arroyo casts vote in Pampanga hometown

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo motored to her hometown of Lubao in Pampanga to cast her vote in the barangay (village) and sangguniang kabataan (youth council) elections Monday. Mrs Arroyo arrived at Precinct 1-A at the Lubao Elementary School in San Nicolas village at 9:31 a.m. The President stood in line and exchanged pleasantries with other voters. She was listed as number 86 in the precinct's voters list. Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, a political ally of the President, and other local officials greeted Mrs Arroyo upon her arrival. Three other Macapagal relatives were listed after the President's name, including her brother Diosdado Macaraeg Macapagal Jr. Polling Precinct 1 is located in a classroom of the Paaralang Elementarya ng Lubao, Hilagang Distrito ng Lubao. The classroom, with a simple comfort room inside, is normally occupied by Grade III-A pupils under Mrs. Emily Calalang. After verifying that her name was on the posted list of voters, the President proceeded to her designated precinct and stood in line like an ordinary voter while waiting for the Board of Election Inspectors to verify her name on the Election Day Computerized Voters’ List and Voting Records. After about 15 minutes of waiting, the President was given her ballot. She took her place at the back of the first row and quietly filled out her ballot. Within three minutes, the President folded her ballot, stood up and after posing for the requisite photo opportunity, dropped her ballot into the ballot box. After having her index finger marked with indelible ink, the President boarded her car which took her to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga for her flight to Dumaguete City to speak at the National Conference on Integrated Taxation System at the Oriental Negros Convention Center. - GMANews.TV