Latest news with #NationalandLocalElections
GMA Network
02-07-2025
- 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
26-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec lifts suspension of Marcy Teodoro' proclamation as Marikina rep
The Commission on Elections has lifted the suspension of the proclamation of outgoing Marikina Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro as the winning congressional candidate of the city's 1st District following the reinstatement of his certificate of candidacy. In a 38-page resolution promulgated on June 25, the Comelec en banc granted the consolidated motions for reconsideration filed by Teodoro and reversed and set aside the poll body First Division's December 11, 2024 resolution cancelling his COC. "The order for the suspension of the proclamation of respondent Marcelino "Marcy" R. Teodoro issued by the Commission (En Banc) on 12 May 2025 is hereby lifted. Finally, the certificate of candidacy of herein respondent Marcelino "Marcy" R. Teodoro for the Member of the House of Representatives, 1st District, Marikina City in the 12 May 2025 National and Local Elections is hereby reinstated," it said. The en banc said the petitioners failed to prove that Teodoro committed material representation in his COC for the 2025 polls as regards his residency in Barangay San Roque in the 1st District. —AOL, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
GMA Network
18-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec cancels Duterte Youth party-list registration
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday cancelled the registration of the Duty to Energize the Republic through the Enlightenment of the Youth Sectoral Party-list Organization, more known as the Duterte Youth Party-list. In a 25-page decision promulgated Wednesday, the Comelec Second Division granted a 2019 petition that sought to nullify the party-list registration of the Duterte Youth for being void ab initio, or void from the beginning, after the party-list failed to comply with the jurisdictional requirements of publication and hearing. 'Duterte Youth cannot merely hide under the convenient excuse that the Commission had not required it to publish its Petition for registration or that the Commission has not set a hearing, as it reflects poorly on the party's commitment to transparency and accountability,' the ruling read. The decision added that Duterte Youth 'should have demonstrated good faith compliance with the law and the constitution as an earnest performance of its duty to the electorate.' The Comelec said Duterte Youth committed grounds for cancellation of registration when it fielded overage nominees in 2019. 'It is true that party-list organizations have the freedom to choose their nominees, often through their own internal mechanisms. However, this freedom is not without limits. While the Court recognizes party autonomy, party-list groups must still operate within statutory framework. Unarguably, Section 9, R.A. 7941 listed the qualifications of party-list nominees, including the highly disputed age qualification of at least 25 but not more than 35 years of age on the day of the election,' the decision said. 'Thus, when Duterte Youth deliberately accommodated its overaged candidate just a few hours before the 13 May 2019 National and Local Elections, arguing that it has all the freedom to choose whoever it chooses as nominee, its bona fide intent to represent the youth sector becomes clouded with doubt. To stress, it is the nominee who has to qualify in representing the sector, not the other way around. The sector cannot be tailored to fit the nominee's profile,' the poll body added. Further, the Second Division ruled the Duterte Youth party-list violated Section 2(3), Rule 2 of Resolution No. 9366 when it used the machinery of the National Youth Commission to promote their candidacy. The party-list likewise 'undermined the spirit and intent of the party-list system and put a mockery in the election process' when it withdrew and substituted en masse its nominees in 2019. 'It is the duty of the Commission to respond when the technicalities of election laws are being exploited and used as tools for manipulation. To find otherwise would be to encourage the abhorrent practice of hunting for loopholes and to keep a blind eye on corruption and abuse of the system,' the ruling said. GMA Integrated News has reached out to the Duterte Youth Party-list for comment. 'Not yet final' Meanwhile, poll chief George Erwin Garcia said the decision is not yet final and executory as the party-list may still file a motion for reconsideration (MR) with the Comelec en banc. 'Bagamat yun ang naging decision ng Comelec division, may remedyo ang naturang partylist. Maaari pa rin silang mag-file ng motion for reconsideration upang maresolve yan ng Commission en banc,' Garcia said. (The partylist may still avail of legal remedies. They can file a motion for reconsideration with the Comelec en banc.) —RF, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
JUST NOW: Pasig congressional candidate Ian Sia has been disqualified by Comelec
Pasig congressional candidate Christian 'Ian' Sia was disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, May 7, for making discriminatory and lewd statements, particularly against single mothers and a former assistant. The Comelec 2nd Division gave its decision on Wednesday, May 7, saying it agreed with the complaint made by its anti-discrimination panel, which started the case motu proprio, or on its own initiative. 'Respondent is hereby DISQUALIFIED from continuing as a candidate for Member, House of Representatives, Lone Legislative District of Pasig City in relation to the 2025 National and Local Elections,' the decision read. This is the first time that a candidate has been disqualified over discriminatory remarks, according to Comelec records. Sia, a candidate under the opposition group 'Kaya This,' faced strong criticism from lawmakers, civic groups, and netizens after saying in a campaign event that, if he won, he would let single mothers in Pasig have sex with him once a year. The Comelec's Task Force Safe had earlier issued two show-cause orders against Sia after his inappropriate remarks about women. In his official response dated April 8, Sia said, 'My campaign events are my way of conversing with my constituents. While the words may sound brash, my speech, in its entirety, falls within my freedom of speech.' Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia clarified that Sia could still appeal the disqualification before the full commission and eventually elevate the case to the Supreme Court.
