Palace: Int’l, local watchdogs tapped to ensure ‘clean, honest’ polls

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Voters fill up their ballots inside a polling precinct at the Sto. Niño Elementary School in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Monday (Oct. 30, 2023). (PNA photo by Ben Briones)

MANILA – The government is working with international and local watchdogs to ensure “clean and honest” midterm elections on May 12, Malacañang said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the initiative is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to make sure that the May 12 national and local elections would be peaceful, orderly, and credible.

“Para sa hangaring malinis at tapat na halalan, nagsama-sama ang lahat ng election watchdogs mula sa mga pribadong organisasyon, simbahan, kabataan at iba pang sektor (In the interest of clean and honest elections, all election watchdogs from private organizations, churches, youth, and other sectors have come together),” Castro said.

“Sa kanilang mahigpit na pagbabantay, matitiyak na ang bawat boto ay mabibilang nang tama, at ang bawat boses ng mga mamamayan ay maririnig (With their strict vigilance, it will be ensured that every vote will be counted correctly, and every citizen’s voice will be heard).”

On May 7, the European Union (EU) also deployed about 104 “short-term” observers for the conduct of the May 12 midterm elections in the Philippines.

The observers will be positioned across all regions in both urban and rural areas during the polling, automated counting, and canvassing of results.

The EU also deployed 72 long-term observers to observe the polls in pairs and cover all regions in the country, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Castro said the Philippine National Police is “100 percent” ready for the upcoming elections.

“Kaisa ang administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., ating itataguyod ang isang halalang mapayapa, malinis, at makatarungan para sa bayan, para sa kinabukasan, at para sa isang Bagong Pilipinas (Together with the administration of President Marcos Jr., we will promote a peaceful, clean, and just election for the people, for the future, and for a New Philippines),” she said.