Former Justice Carpio Asks Filipino Youth to Vote

By Jose Oscar Magpusao

1SAMBAYAN Chairperson and Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio reminded the Filipino youth to register and exercise their right to vote as their age group comprised a huge chunk of the population during the 1SAMBAYAN Youth Press Conference held during National Heroes Day on Monday

Carpio opened by giving his thoughts on what the 2022 presidential election would mean for the future of the Filipino youth and Filipinos in general.

“The next elections will determine the future of our country, which means the future of our youth. For the future of our country belongs to our youth. It is imperative that the youth make themselves heard, and heard loud and clear in the next elections,” he said.

He further underlined the importance of registration to the youth that have reached 18 years old and are qualified to vote, imploring them to register before voting registration closes in the month of September.

“The youth vote, those from ages 18 to 30, is the largest voting block in the country. The first time voters alone among our youth, those who have reached 18 years of age and are qualified to register and vote, can determine who will be the next president of our country, if all or most of those qualified first time voters will register and vote,” he said.

Carpio then recognized the struggles the youth has been facing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Many among the first time voters of our youth are also the new graduates of 2020 and 2021. A majority of them cannot find employment amidst the greatest contraction of our economy since the end of World War II. They are competing for jobs not only among themselves, but also those who graduated before 2020 but who are now unemployed because of the pandemic,” he said.

He then went on to commend their perseverance in the face of the challenges forced onto them by the pandemic and voiced his confidence in the Filipino youth.

“These are difficult times for our youth, but they know their future lies in their own hands. They have the power to decide in 2022 who should be our national leaders who can give them a better and brighter future,” he said.

“Congratulations to our youth for rising to the challenge of these difficult times,” he concluded.