Comelec to allow CHR observers in the 2025 elections

An elderly woman is assisted as she undergoes biometric procedure at a voters’ registration facility in Binondo, Manila just days before the deadline of poll registration on January 31, 2023. (File photo from INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is set to deploy election watchers in the upcoming midterm elections, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Thursday.

Garcia said the CHR officials expressed such an intention as he attended the commission’s 2025 election’s orientation seminar held at a Quezon City hotel.

“They (CHR) told us that they want their personnel to become observers in [voter] precincts,” Garcia said in an ambush interview after attending the CHR event. “We will allow that. Why not?”

Garcia also said the CHR also requested if their personnel who will work on election day may be qualified to avail of the absentee voting.

He further said he urged the CHR to submit a letter to the Comelec stating that request.

During the event, the Comelec also demonstrated the usage of automated counting machines in front of the CHR personnel.

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