Latest news with #Laudiangco
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
EU observers give Comelec their final report on Eleksyon 2025
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) turns over its Final Report and Recommendations for the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections to the Commission on Elections at Comelec headquarters in Palacio del Gobernador, Intramuros, Manila on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Photo: Commission on Elections The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said it will review the recommendations of the European Union (EU) poll observers on the recent 2025 national and local elections (NLE). Members of the EU observation mission met with Comelec officials to formally turn over their final election observation report and recommendations, months after the conclusion of the May 12 midterm polls. 'Ang pangako ng lahat ng bawat isang miyembro ng Comelec kanina, aaralin at kung may mga bagay na maisasama sa proposal na revised Omnibus Election Code (OEC) ay isasama pa namin para maisaayos,' Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco told reporters. (The promise of each and every Comelec en banc member is to review the report and if there is any recommendation that may be included in the proposal for the revised OEC, then we will include it.) In April, the EU launched the election observation mission for Eleksyon 2025, deploying an initial 200 observers. More poll observers arrived in the country the following month. The international observers released their initial report on May 14, flagging widespread vote-buying; the continued dominance of political families; election-related violence, including on election day; and a legal framework that is fragmented and lacks grievance mechanisms. According to Laudiangco, among the EU poll observers' recommendations are decreasing the number of voters per precinct to shorten lines. They also reiterated the issues on vote buying, and violence, and lauded the poll body's transparency efforts, engagement with media, and expeditious actions on complaints of discrimination, and red-tagging. 'Mukhang ang susi kasi sa lahat ng nakitang observations, dalawang bagay: pagbabago sa legislation at pagpapalaki ng pondo. Kung masosolusyunan ang dalawang bagay na ito, tingin namin pareho, magagampanan namin ang sinasabi nilang international standard at mas magandang pagpapalakad ng halalan,' he added. (We saw that the key to these observations are two things: the amendment of election laws and a higher budget for the polls. If a way can be found for these, we think we will be able to attain the international standard and a better way of conducting elections.) The EU observation team said it will also submit its final report and recommendations to Congress. The Philippines held its midterm polls on May 12. — BM, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
BARMM polls to proceed even with only 73 seats up for grabs — Comelec
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday it can no longer delay the first-ever Bangsamoro parliamentary elections on October 13 even though only 73 seats are up for grabs. Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said the poll body is ready to explain before the Supreme Court the poll body's decision to proceed with the parliamentary elections in the region. "Nakahanda naman po kaming tumugon at magpaliwanag sa ating Kataastasang Hukuman kung kami ay aatasan na sumagot," he said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. (We are ready to answer and explain to the Supreme Court if we are ordered to respond.) "Kung sakali man pong magkakaroon ng development, whether sa batas, whether sa kaso o pagkuwestiyon at ano pa man, nakahanda naman po tumugon ang Comelec," Laudiangco said. "Ngunit isa lamang po ang malinaw na mensahe ng Comelec sa bagay na ito, kailangan na po namin maghanda at hindi na po kami puwede mag-delay pa kung nais natin matuloy ang halalan sa October 13," he added. (In case there is a development, whether on law, the case, or any questions, the Comelec is ready to respond. However, the Comelec has only one clear message on this matter: We need to prepare and we cannot face any further delays if we want the elections to proceed on October 13.) There were supposed to be 80 available parliamentary seats, but the seven seats that were originally intended for Sulu have yet to be reallocated by the interim Bangsamoro Parliament. In a September 2024 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the Bangsamoro Organic Law but declared that Sulu was not part of BARMM. The High Court denied motions seeking the reversal of the decision in November 2024. The SC ruling necessitated the redistribution of the seven vacated seats originally allocated to Sulu under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed into law the measure postponing the BARMM polls from May 12 to October 13 this year. Malacañang had said the President supported a Senate bill for the postponement of the BARMM polls as this would "address the urgent need of the Bangsamoro transitional government to realign its governance structure." — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Overseas Filipino voting begins; Comelec releases official schedule by country
Overseas Filipino voters officially began casting their ballots on Sunday, marking the start of the month-long overseas voting period, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced. Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco confirmed that the test voting phase has ended, making way for the official overseas voting period which runs from April 13 until May 12 at 7 p.m. 'The start of voting in countries where there are enrolled registered overseas voters (ROVs) is at 8:00 a.m.,' Laudiangco said. The corresponding voting start times (in Philippine Standard Time) for various countries and regions are as follows: Australia and Guam (GMT+10): 6:00 AM Japan and South Korea (GMT+9): 7:00 AM Brunei, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Macau, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Singapore (GMT+8): 8:00 AM Thailand, Vietnam, and parts of Indonesia (GMT+7): 9:00 AM Bangladesh (GMT+6): 10:00 AM India (GMT+5:30): 10:30 AM Pakistan (GMT+5): 11:00 AM United Arab Emirates and Oman (GMT+4): 12:00 PM Greece, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Kenya, and Israel (GMT+3): 1:00 PM European countries such as Spain, Germany, France, and South Africa (GMT+2): 2:00 PM Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Morocco (GMT+1): 3:00 PM Brazil and Argentina (GMT-3): 7:00 PM USA (GMT-5), Canada, and Chile (GMT-4): 8:00 PM USA (GMT-5): 9:00 PM Mexico (GMT-6): 10:00 PM USA and Canada (GMT-7): 11:00 PM USA (GMT-10): 2:00 AM (following day) Related Articles
