Marcos casts vote early for 2023 BSKE

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. cast his vote for the 2023 Barangay Elections in Ilocos Norte early Monday morning.

Wearing a blue polo, Marcos voted at Precinct 0036A, Cluster Number 0036A in Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School (MMMES) in Lacub, Batac City. 

Facing members of the media after casting his vote, Marcos cited the importance of the barangay elections on the upcoming midterm polls.

"I cannot overstate the importance of the result of the barangay elections. It’s very simple, I mean, the political dynamics is very simple. If halimbawa you are running for mayor, and the majority of the barangay officials are on your side, are helping you, ay talagang malaking bagay 'yun. It will make it much easier to be elected in the local level," Marcos said.

"What happens here in the barangay elections, the results of the barangay election today are going to have an effect on the results in the midterm elections and subsequently in the national elections," the President added.

Marcos also said that given that the barangay elections are "personal," conflicts should be avoided.

"It is held at the very intimate, personal level. That’s why nagkakainitan ng husto, kaya 'yun ang nais nating iwasan (that's what we need to avoid)," Marcos said.

Registered Filipino voters in 42,001 villages nationwide will cast their votes today for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

At exactly 7:00 a.m. on Monday, poll workers accepted ballots from registered voters across the country.

The voting will end at 3:00 p.m. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA Integrated News

Follow GMA News Online's live updates of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE 2023) here.