By Genalyn Kabiling The 2019 midterm elections have been generally peaceful but the public must remain vigilant to prevent any irregularity during the counting of the ballots, Malacañang said Monday night. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo
(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN) As the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) starts to count the ballots, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said they hope the results of this year's polls would reflect the "genuine will" of the electorate. "As counting begins, we call on everyone to be vigilant and be on guard against any act of irregularity in the election,” Panelo said in a statement. "The electoral fraud comes when the voters do not participate or involve themselves after they cast their votes. Let us not allow those who seek to destroy our democratic process and trample our sacred votes have their way," he added. Panelo meantime praised the school teachers, law enforcers as well as voters for helping ensure the midterm elections were peaceful. He said there was “no major untoward incident” that disrupted the elections although there were the usual confusion, queueing and complaint on faulty vote counting machines on Election Day. "We commend everyone for making the 2019 midterm elections generally peaceful,” he said. Panelo also lauded authorities for the "extra vigilance and strict enforcement of election laws," including the apprehension of persons for violations of the gun ban, liquor ban, and vote buying. The Palace expressed gratitude to the teachers for their sacrifice in serving as election inspectors. He noted that the teachers helped ensure the elections from the registration, actual voting and counting are clean and credible. "We likewise thank our people for taking part in this healthy democratic exercise and sacred ritual of choosing the individuals who they believe can help in governing this nation and their respective localities," he added. When poll results are in, Panelo appealed to the public to support the new government leaders democratically chosen "for the betterment of the Filipino people." To the winners of the elections, he urged them "to be fealty to their duties imposed by law and to serve their constituents well and with dedication."