Manny Pangilinan didn't vote from home

A viral post has falsely suggested that businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan voted from home during Monday’s elections.

The tweet by user @dumidyeypee reshared a report by News5 with photos of Pangilinan filling out a ballot and showing his ink-stained finger. It reads:

So he voted from home? Pwede pala (That’s allowed)?

The post mistakenly identifies the background in the photographs as Pangilinan’s home. However, the photos were taken from Forbes Park Pavilion, as confirmed by an on-site reporter of BusinessMirror. 

The pavilion is an official polling location designated by the Commission on Elections for precincts in Barangay Forbes Park, Makati City.

According to Comelec regulations, registered voters must cast their ballots in person at assigned polling places unless they are authorized absentee or overseas voters. There is no provision for home-based voting for the public.

Pangilinan, according to his official X profile, voted at 5:10 a.m., which aligns with Comelec’s early voting hours of 5 to 7 a.m. for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant women. Pangilinan, a senior citizen, was eligible to vote early. 

The misleading post had over 66,500 views, 3,200 likes and 94 reposts before it was taken down. (KB)