Philippines gets ready for Eleksyon 2025

Poll watchers over the weekend prepared for the midterm elections on Monday, May 12, with over 68.431 million registered voters across the country expected to cast their ballots for both national and local positions.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday continued to turn over voting materials, including the automated counting machines (ACMs) and official ballots, to the electoral boards of polling centers in the country, while tighter security measures have been implemented in election hotspots.

The campaign period ended at 12 a.m. on Sunday, with the mandatory campaign silence period now in effect. A nationwide liquor ban has likewise been imposed across the country, except for hotels and other establishments certified to cater to foreign tourists.

The state weather bureau PAGASA expects at least 28 areas to have a “danger level” heat index on Monday, the election day, reaching as high as 45 degrees Celsius in Sangley Point, Cavite City, and in Catarman, Northern Samar.

Even with this, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) on Sunday said that the energy sector is fully prepared, and that there will be stable and sufficient electricity supply during the polls.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), there have been no serious threats monitored days ahead of the polls, but strict measures remain in place. The PNP is on full alert to ensure that the midterm polls are peaceful, fair, and orderly.

Uniformed personnel have also stepped in as poll watchers in some towns in Lanao del Sur and in Maguindanao del Sur, after tensions in the areas caused teachers to back out as part of the electoral board.

In Bacong, Negros Oriental, authorities apprehended a man presumed to be involved in vote-buying, as cash and sample ballots were found stored in his compartment while he was stopped riding his motorcycle at a checkpoint.

In Zamboanga City, there were two fatalities reported while 10 others were injured when a stampede occurred during a supposed payout for poll watchers in Tumaga. The police denied that a stampede happened, and said the victims died of natural causes.

In Basilan, four individuals were killed in a clash of supporters of mayoral candidates in Langil Island, Basilan. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the incident underscores the “continued threat” posed by politically motivated violence in conflict-affected areas.

A teacher set to serve as an electoral board member was also shot by unidentified assailants. She was riding a motorcycle from Lantawan, Isabela City when she was ambushed in Barangay Sumagdang.

Long queues were observed in Quezon City, with individuals giving out different reasons for their attendance. One of them said they were queueing for a meeting, while another who introduced himself as a counsel said the individuals were lining up for orientation of poll watchers.

According to the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), almost 100 vote-buying cases have been recorded for this year’s national and local elections—from barangay halls, voters’ homes, to last-minute assemblies.

For its part, the Comelec called on the PNP to proceed with the arrest of vote buyers caught in the act, even without a warrant issued against them. The agency has vowed protection for police officers who may face legal consequences for enforcing warrantless arrests.

The Comelec earlier expressed confidence that the May 12 elections will be peaceful and orderly, as its chair George Garcia appealed to the public to believe in the electoral process and not to fall for fake news.

Eighteen of the top 20 voting centers with the highest number of registered voters are in the National Capital Region (NCR), with the top in Nagpayong Elementary School in the 2nd District of Pasig City with 47,249 voters.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has also urged Filipinos to vote responsibly, and protect the integrity of the elections. He earlier declared Election Day as a special non-working holiday to give voters the opportunity to cast their ballots.

Polling precincts will be open for early voting from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. for senior citizens, persons with disability, and pregnant women, while the regular voting hours for all registered voters will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Members of the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission are set to monitor the polls, after the Comelec allowed them to enter polling places after voters have cast their votes. — BM, GMA Integrated News

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