MANILA, Philippines – The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to the Philippines deployed an additional 104 short-term observers on Wednesday, marking the third group of EU EOM observers for the upcoming midterm elections.
In a news release, the EU EOM confirmed that the 104 short-term observers followed the arrival of a core team of analysts who arrived in the Philippines at the end of March, and the deployment of 72 long-term observers in mid-April.
"The 104 short-term observers will be deployed across all regions of the Philippines, in both urban and rural areas,” said Chief Observer Marta Temido, during a press briefing in Manila.
“Together with the core team and the long-term observers, they will enhance the mission’s presence, reach, and capacity on election day, as well as during the polling, automated counting, and canvassing of results," Temido added.
Temido explained that on election day, the EU observers will be visiting different precincts from the opening at 5 a.m. to the closing of the elections at 7 p.m.
Each team will then observe the closing procedures at one polling precinct and remain there until the counting operations are over. The teams will also observe the “functioning of the election technology,” she stated.
The Chief Observer also mentioned that after each visit, the team will fill out an “observation form” and send it to their headquarters in Manila, with the aim of “contributing to the integrity of the elections, without interfering nor validating its results.”
The EU EOM will then issue a preliminary statement on findings at a press conference on 14 May 2025 in Manila.
According to Temido, “the statement will be published on our website, distributed to the press, and made available to all Philippine citizens and the authorities.”
A final report with recommendations will be presented in the country approximately two months after the elections, she added.
“Constructive recommendations will be the legacy of our mission, offered to the consideration of people and authorities in the same spirit of cooperation and partnership with the Philippines that marks our presence in the country since our arrival," Temido concluded.
Prior to the deployment, the short-term observers received a three-day in-depth briefing in Manila regarding electoral framework, voting and counting procedures, as well as the overall political environment.
Aside from the short-term observers and the 72 long-term observers recently deployed, a delegation of the European Parliament and 20 accredited members of the diplomatic community from EU member states, Canada, Norway and Switzerland will join the EU EOM in the succeeding days.
According to EU EOM, the total observers that will be deployed is 226, and will cover all regions of the country from 76 locations, particularly in the provinces and cities.
The European Union was invited to observe the elections by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Government of the Philippines, EU EOM stated.
