EU poll observers flag vote-buying but laud voter turnout in Eleksyon 2025

Vote-buying during the Philippine midterm elections remains endemic and well entrenched, the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission said Wednesday.

Marta Temido, chief observer of the EU poll observation mission, said the 2025 elections were held against the backdrop of widespread vote-buying; continued dominance of few political families; election-related violence, including on election day; and a legal framework that is fragmented and lacks grievance mechanisms.

"We heard many times that there was more gold in these elections. EU observers witnessed several credible indications and received reports of vote buying through cash, goods as well as distribution of ayuda," she said.

"Vote-buying is entrenched and endemic and requires a major engagement to be adequately addressed," she added.

Temido, however, also noted that vote buying is rooted in poverty.

"When daily life is a struggle, then some food, a small amount of money or essential services, health care or funeral expenses offered in exchange for votes can feel like a tangible benefit," she said.

The EU poll observers team deputy chief Manuel Sanchez de Nogues agreed that vote buying lingers because poverty lingers just as much.

"I would like to say that vote buying is endemic, entrenched and has its roots in socio-economic concerns. Therefore, our observers in the field have received credible reports on the practice of vote buying in several provinces namely Bohol, Davao Oriental, La Union, Palawan, Quezon, Siquijor, Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Sur," de Nogues said.

"We have also in some cases, witnesses, which is even difficult because we are also, we are quite highly identified as election observers, but we still have some evidence of those practices," he added.

Likewise, Temido said while incidents of election-related violence only reached 30 cases, this number on top of 10 people killed during election day should not have happened in the first place in a democratic exercise of elections.

"Some may say that the violence was less severe than in previous elections here in the Philippines. However, there is no room for violence in a democratic society. Violence is not a matter of statistics, it is about human lives," she added.

Last minute polling precinct ban

Temido and EU Parliament member Vladimir Prebilic of Slovenia, the head of the EU Parliament delegation who participated in the EU poll observation mission, also decried the Comelec’s last minute decision not to allow EU poll observers inside the polling precincts which they described was a breach of their earlier agreement with the poll body.

“Please be aware, remember that every mission signs an administrative arrangement with the host country, which grants unimpeded access, freedom of access to all phases of the electoral process. If Comelec told the EU that such access won’t be granted to international  observers, we would not be here today. We would not have deployed the mission at all,” Temido said.

“The decision to not allow us into precincts was communicated to us just four days before elections. We were very surprised, shocked. The solution proposed by the Comelec to stay outside the precincts as the option to deal with the situation. [But] to witness through a window is not compatible with our methodology. To look through a window is not to observe,” she added.

Prebili?, for his part, said the EU poll observers contingent tried to reach out to Comelec for a middle ground before the election day to no avail since poll officials refused to talk things out with them.

“As the head of the EP delegation [for the poll observation mission], I really wanted to communicate what could be done in order to go around or to find a way around because at the end of the day, we are here for the same goal: how to contribute to development of democracy. We were not received by anyone in the Comelec,” Prebilic said.

“Afterwards, we also tried to get some additional information via telephone calls and so on and so on. But we were not able to get in touch with the Comelec. This could have been avoided if we were talking to each other, meeting each other. Communication is essential and again, there won't be any kind of problems...we're always here to understand things, but if you do not have a party to communicate with, it’s difficult. We really regret the situation,” he said.

Impressive voter turnout

Prebili? and Temido, however, lauded the high turnout of voters during the election day on May 12 despite the heat and a lot of other challenges.

“One good thing [that happened] is [the] impressive turnout  of Filipino [voters], and this is a really, really good starting point for any democracy around the world. So again, I can only salute and congratulate all the people who waited in the lines, who were casting their votes under really, I would say, difficult circumstances, weather and so on, humidity and so on,” Prebilic said.

“They waited there patiently to contribute to democracy. And this is something we all should praise. So it's really, really remarkable. And again, congratulations,” he added.

Temido , for her part, said the high voter turnout during the May 12 polls is a demonstration of “strong commitment to democracy and civic values, despite the persistence of vote buying and other systemic issues.”

Going forward, the EU Parliament member said amending the Omnibus Election Code, which dates back to 1985, is something to consider to address perennial election concerns such as vote buying, uneven playing field, dominance of political dynasties, among others.

“I think that reform of electoral law that is from 1985 is something that is worth considering. Of course, I know this is internal stuff, and it's, of course, upon the political figures. But I think that modernization of this legal framework would be really appreciated, not for the international community, but for your country and democracy within the Philippines,” Prebilic said.

“We leave the country with deep respect for the Filipino people and their democratic spirit. It is our sincere hope that our observation will contribute to even modest future improvements. The European Parliament looks forward to continued dialogue on further enhancing the bonds between our citizens,” he added.

Comelec earlier said that the voter turnout of the 2025 midterm elections is way higher than the usual 60% to 65%, although a final figure is yet to be announced.

GMA News Online has reached out to Comelec for comment and will publish them as soon as it becomes available. —AOL, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.