Comelec allows EU observers in precincts before and after voting hours
(File photo courtesy of Comelec Eastern Visayas)
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday announced that European Union (EU) observers will be allowed inside polling precincts—but only before and after voting hours.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia previously said EU election observation mission (EOM) watchers are not allowed inside polling precincts at all.
READ: Comelec: EU watchers not allowed in polling precincts
“We told them that they are not allowed inside precinct on election day while our countrymen are voting,” Garcia said in an ambush interview at Filipino at Manila Hotel Tent City, where the canvassing of votes will take place.
“Now, we told them, once the voting is finished … they can now enter without restriction,” Garcia said.
Voting will begin at 5:00 a.m. for priority sectors like senior citizens and persons with disability.
For the rest of the voting population, voting will be from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Flexibility
“We will have flexibility, [they can now enter] once there are no voters anymore or there are no voters yet.”
“They can’t enter inside during voting hours because [people] might say they are interfering and influencing our countrymen while voting,” Garcia said.
Garcia noted that classrooms, which serve as polling precincts are usually cramped and there are times when even those allowed to enter could not be accommodated anymore.
“The regular watchers might complain, because they themselves are outside, so why do others, foreigners especially, are inside precincts during voting hours?”
New rule OK with EU observers
Garcia said the EU delegation acquiesced with this development during a meeting on Saturday.
“They have agreed yesterday and they thanked us for showing flexibility,” Garcia said.
Upon the invitation of the government, a big batch of EU-EOM team arrived in the country to observe the elections here for the first time.
The EU-EOM’s core team of analysts arrived in Manila in March.
Then, the mission’s 72 long-term observers arrived last month, followed by the entry of their 104 short-term observers this week.
They were now deployed in all 17 regions nationwide, tasked to fill out an observation form which they will submit to the EOM’s core team manned by a dozen of analysts.
Other foreign observers
Aside from EU observers, the Comelec has also invited 52 more international observers, particularly from Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, Taiwan, Armenia, and Tajikistan.
Some 60 observers from the United States are also in the Philippines, according to Garcia.
On the other hand, Garcia said they have no problems with the restrictions imposed by the Comelec based on law
“The regular observers invited by the Commission on Elections … they are okay with it because, they said, they don’t want to have any problems,” Garcia said.
