Comelec ‘very prepared’ for May 12 polls

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

TURNOVER. Teachers serving as election board members receive official ballots at the MICE Convention Center in Quezon City on Friday (May 9, 2025). Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia said they are “very prepared” for the national and local elections on May 12. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is “very prepared” for Monday’s national and local elections, with contingency measures intact, Chairperson George Garcia said on Friday.

“The Comelec is very prepared… the important thing is that our contingency measures are intact in what the commission will do in any situation,” Garcia said in an interview after the final lockdown of data centers for the elections at the Data Center 3 in Ayala Circuit, Makati City.

He added that as of Friday, they have not recorded any untoward incident that could mar the conduct of the midterm elections.

The weekend before the elections, as well as the morning of Election Day, however, is considered “most crucial,” Garcia said, as this is when vote-buying usually happens.

“The most crucial is Saturday, Sunday, and early Monday morning,” he said. “The buying of votes happens there.”

Meanwhile, Garcia reported that the installation of Starlink satellite transmission devices is “almost 100 percent” complete, except for the slight delay in the Cordillera region due to inclement weather.

“There are last-ditch efforts like the Starlinks. Only a few pieces need to be placed in places like Mountain Province and Ifugao, because it rained heavily there yesterday. So, the installation of Starlinks was not completed. Our Starlinks have been installed almost 100 percent,” he said.

With three days before the elections, Garcia reminded senior citizens, persons with disability, and pregnant women that they can vote as early as 5 a.m. when the polling centers open exclusively for the vulnerable sectors.

“They are allowed to bring someone, to assist them, and we will let the person with them vote. Only one person can accompany the senior citizen, the disabled, and the pregnant woman,” Garcia said.

Regular voters, on the other hand, can vote from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Garcia reminded the public that drinking, buying, and selling alcoholic drinks are prohibited on the eve of the elections and Election Day.

More than 68 million registered voters are expected to troop to polling places on Monday to cast their votes.

A total of 18,121 positions are up for grabs in the May 12 elections, from senators, party-list groups, district representatives, governors, vice governors, provincial board members, mayors, vice mayors, and councilors.