Malacañang has reminded Filipinos abroad to exercise their right to suffrage and vote for leaders with integrity and not just because they were told to.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this as the monthlong online absentee voting for eligible Filipinos overseas kicked off on April 13.

In her press briefing on Monday, Castro reminded Filipinos abroad of their right and obligation to vote for the country's next leaders.

"Gampanan niyo po ang inyong tungkulin bilang isang Pilipino. Bumoto po kayo nang nararapat (Fulfill your duty as a Filipino. Vote properly)," she said.

The Palace Press Officer urged voters to be guided by patriotism and sincerity when voting.

"Bumoto po mula sa puso. Huwag pong bumoto dahil lamang sa bulong o dahil kayo'y nabayaran (Vote from the heart. Do not vote just because of whispers or because you were paid)," she said.

"Iboto niyo po ang mga taong nararapat. Yung maaasahan po natin— mga leader na hindi ibebenta ang bansa kahit sa anumang paraan at mga leader na makabayan (Vote for those who are deserving. Leaders we can count on, who will not sell out the country in any way, and are patriotic)," she added.

Meanwhile, Castro expressed optimism about the country's first online absentee voting.

"Sana po mas maging maayos po ito dahil po ito ay mas mapabilis po ang pamamaraan ng pagboto ng ating mga kababayan (We hope this improves the process, as it can make it faster for our countrymen to vote)," she said.

Previously, Filipinos abroad could only vote via personal appearance at designated locations through mailed ballots.

The first to vote were registered voters in New Zealand, while the last to begin voting online were Filipinos in Hawaii.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has implemented internet voting for the first time in 77 posts in different countries. Online voting portals for eligible Filipinos are open 24 hours.

Registered Filipino voters overseas can vote via smartphones, computers, and tablets.

Meanwhile, qualified voters must vote in person in 16 posts abroad, including China and Russia, where an online voting and counting system is not allowed.

Comelec hopes that online voting will address the low turnout of absentee voting in the last elections. In 2022, only around 600,000 of the 1.967 million registered Filipino voters abroad voted.