23-05-2025
Church, activists decry Philippine poll irregularities
Church leaders, poll watchdogs, and civil society groups have condemned the violence, vote-buying, and alleged fraud during the May 12 midterm elections in the Philippines. May 23, 2025
Activist groups march in capital Manila on May 13 to protest the violence and irregularities at the May 12 midterm elections in the Philippines. (Photo courtesy of Pastor Irma Balaba)
MANILA: Church leaders, poll watchdogs, and civil society groups have condemned the violence, vote-buying, and alleged fraud during the May 12 midterm elections in the Philippines. Archbishop Socrates Villegas called the polls 'tainted by money and blood' and urged Filipinos to remain critical, noting that while no election is perfect, much improvement is still needed. Despite the Commission on Elections (Comelec) claiming it was among the most peaceful elections to date, watchdog Kontra Daya reported widespread machine errors, illegal campaigning, and voter disenfranchisement.
Protests erupted in Manila, with groups demanding a hybrid manual-automated system to ensure transparency. Activists criticised the reliability of automated counting machines, calling for a serious audit and prosecution of election violations. Reports from Vote Report PH cited malfunctioning machines, disenfranchisement, and red-tagging as major concerns. The European Union Election Observation Mission also raised issues about limited access to polling precincts, affecting their ability to observe the voting process comprehensively. --
