European Union High Representative and Vice President Kaja Kallas has expressed regret over restrictions placed on international election observers during the recent Philippine midterm elections, citing that it undermined the EU Election Observation Mission’s (EOM) ability to meaningfully assess the process.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Kallas said, “Today, Secretary Manalo and I also discussed the recent midterm elections in the country, and I underlined our regret about the restrictions to the access of our electoral observation mission despite arrangements prior to the deployment.”
According to the EU EOM’s preliminary findings released shortly after the May 12 elections, Filipino voters demonstrated strong commitment to democracy and civic values, but the elections were hampered by systemic issues:
- Strong voter engagement was overshadowed by persistent vote-buying, which the Commission on Elections (Comelec) only partially addressed through stricter regulations.
- Political dynasties continued to dominate, with about 20% of congressional district races uncontested, limiting genuine competition and voter choice.
- Election-related violence remained a major concern, with at least 30 fatalities during the election period, including 10 people killed on election day. Violence was particularly prevalent in hotspots such as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
- Restrictions on election observation prevented the EU EOM from deploying its full contingent of 226 observers, undermining the comprehensiveness of their monitoring efforts. The mission reported being unable to follow its established methodology fully.
- Where observers were allowed, the counting process was assessed positively in most polling precincts observed. However, delays in transmitting results raised doubts about the efficiency and transparency of the process.
- The election legal framework was criticized as fragmented and outdated, with many provisions of the 1985 Omnibus Election Code no longer applicable. Comelec’s regulatory interventions, while well-intentioned, sometimes blurred into de facto law-making.
- The media environment was generally pluralistic, but state-funded media heavily favored the administration. Freedom of expression remains constrained by the criminalization of defamation and legal gaps that fall short of international standards.
- Vote-buying and partisan welfare distribution (ayuda) were widespread, with credible reports raising concerns about the fairness of the process.
- Women remained underrepresented, accounting for only 22% of the candidates, despite comprising a significant portion of the electorate.
- The election body’s technical performance was generally competent, with polling stations well-prepared and automated counting machines deployed. However, some administrative procedures prioritized technicalities at the expense of clear voter communication.
The EU EOM noted that it would publish a final report with detailed recommendations within two months after the elections.
Comelec has yet to publicly respond to the preliminary findings and the EU’s concerns about restricted access.
