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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Foreign observers to help ensure clean, fair polls—Palace

Foreign observers to help ensure clean, fair polls—Palace

Published May 7, 2025 01:36 pm

At A Glance

  • Castro said foreign observers are welcome so long as they maintain neutrality and do not seek to influence the outcome.

Malacañang has welcomed the presence of foreign delegates who will observe the conduct of the upcoming midterm elections, saying they will help boost the polls' credibility and deter election fraud.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro (RTVM) and EU Chief Observer Marta Temido with the new batch of election observers (Raymund Antonio/Manila Bulletin)

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) deployed over 200 delegates to observe the country's elections on May 12.

In her press briefing on Wednesday, May 7, Castro said the government’s invitation to neutral observers assures the public that the May 12 midterm polls are being conducted fairly and without political interference.

The Palace Press Officer added that foreign observers are welcome so long as they maintain neutrality and do not seek to influence the outcome.

"Mas maganda po makapag-obserba sila para makita po nila na ang eleksyon sa Pilipinas ay malinis (It’s better if they are able to observe so they can see that the elections in the Philippines are clean)," she said.

According to Castro, the presence of foreign observers in the country helps discourage any attempt to manipulate the vote.

"Para din po maiwasan kung anuman po ang maaaring dayaang mangyari (So that we can also prevent any possible election cheating)," she said.

The EU EOM earlier confirmed that its election-related activities in the Philippines have been "running smoothly and peacefully" despite the deployment of some observers to election hotspots.

It has so far deployed 72 long-term observers across the country, and on Wednesday, it sent off an additional 104 short-term observers who will monitor the polls on May 12 in 76 locations. They will be joined by 20 members of the diplomatic community from EU member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland, bringing the total number of EU EOM observers on Election Day to 226.

Observers underwent a three-day in-depth briefing on Philippine electoral laws, voting and counting procedures, and the political environment before their deployment.

The mission is expected to release a preliminary report on May 14, with a comprehensive final report and recommendations to be issued two months after the elections.

Related Tags

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