International poll bodies to act as observers in 2025 PH elections

Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Several international election bodies will stand as observers in the country’s upcoming May elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Friday.

During the regular briefing on 2025 elections updates, Comelec Director Elaiza David said that they have sent invitations to 25 election bodies to participate in the International Election Observation Program.

READ: Comelec to allow CHR observers in the 2025 elections

David said that under the program, “election observers from various election management bodies and organizations will come here to observe our elections.”

She noted that as of Friday, January 31, the following confirmed their participation in this year’s program:

• General Election Commission of Mongolia
• Election Commission of Bhutan
• Election Commission of India
• Central Election Commission of Georgia
• Asian Network for Free Elections
• Election Commission of Maldives
• Association of World Election Bodies
• Election Commission of Thailand
• Central Election Commission of Taiwan
• Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan

However, the following bodies and organizations will not be able to participate:

• Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania
• Elections Department of Singapore
• National Election Commission of the Republic of Korea

READ: Every voter to get voter information sheet for 2025 polls – Comelec

David also shared that the poll body will send an electronic briefer to the international observers two months before the actual observation “for them to have a more in depth knowledge or information of our electoral process.”