Comelec: Election reforms, funding needed to heed EU observers’ advice

Comelec board of canvassers during the May 12 elections. Photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — Reform in election law and more funding for elections may be the key to adopting the recommendations made by the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission (EOM) of the 2025 midterm elections, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday.

Comelec Spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco said that the EU Election Observation Mission officially turned over its final report and recommendation for the May 2025 midterm elections to the Comelec en banc on Wednesday.

READ: EU deploying over 200 observers for 2025 PH midterm polls

Laudiangco said that the election observers recommended shorter lines and fewer voters in a polling precinct as they pointed out lack of efforts for ballot secrecy for voters. Laudiangco noted that the poll body expected longer lines in precincts as one automated counting machine (ACMs) could cater to 800-1000 voters.

“What the EU observed might also be a big help—issues that could be addressed if Comelec had a larger budget, especially in increasing the number of precincts so that the number of voters per precinct could be reduced,” Laudiangco, speaking in mixed English and Filipino, told reporters in an interview.

Aside from this, the election observers also recommended changes in election law to combat vote-buying and vote-selling. Laudiangco said that the poll body told them that the Omnibus Election Code of 1985 is outdated and that Congress is responsible for the reform.

Laudiangco said that this recommendation will be included in the 978-page proposal of the poll body for the new election laws. He added that the election observers said that they may provide copies of their report to Congress to help in upgrading the election laws.

“The Comelec will take note of their recommendation on legislation as the Comelec can’t do this since it’s the job of the other side of the government,” Laudiangco said.

Laudiangco also shared that Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia invited the election observers to the upcoming elections.

“The key to these observations may be two things: reform in legislation and more funding. If these two things are resolved, the Comelec and the EU think that the poll body will live up to international standards and a more systematic conduct of elections,” Laudiangco added.

READ: EU election observers detect vote-buying, ballot secrecy failure

Aside from this, Laudiangco said that the election observers commended the poll body’s efforts to combat vote-buying and vote-selling, proliferation of false information through the Task Force KKK, and the fight against discrimination, bullying, and red-tagging through the Task Force Safe.

Laudiangco added that the election observers lauded the poll body’s coordination with other government agencies for the conduct of the elections.

In its initial findings of the elections released last May, the EOM observed instances of vote-buying and failure to uphold ballot secrecy. It also said that the resolution of disputes involving candidacies had no clear deadlines.

Aside from this, the mission pointed out the outdated Omnibus Election Code of 1985 and the elections being “less competitive” as the political power of elected officials remained concentrated in the hands of dynasties.

Meanwhile, the EOM acknowledged positive aspects in the elections such as the poll body’s “timely preparation” of ACMs and the “proactive and diverse” communication efforts including the distribution of voter information sheets.

The government invited more than 200 observers from the union’s member states. The observers were deployed across the country for the conduct of the elections. /mr