Three days before the May 12 midterm national elections, various election watchdogs have expressed confidence in the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) preparations, despite the use of new automated counting machines (ACMs) from the South Korean firm Miru Systems and concerns over possible ‘foreign influence.’
In a press conference, representatives from the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) affirmed their trust in Comelec’s readiness to ensure that the elections will be conducted freely, fair, and without any foreign interference
According to NAMFREL National Council Member Maricor Akol and LENTE Executive Director Atty. Ona Caritos, the election under the leadership of Chairman George Garcia is seen as the most transparent in the last five election cycles.
PPCRV National Coordinator Dr. Arwin Serrano also confirmed that 350,000 volunteers will be deployed nationwide, while the 110,000 available machines are more than enough for the 94,000 clustered precincts, ensuring that the poll body is prepared to address any technical issues.
Despite warnings from security agencies like the Department of National Defense (DND) and the National Security Council (NSC) regarding possible ‘foreign interference’, particularly from China spreading fake news, NAMFREL maintained a positive outlook.
“No, if you are talking about foreign influence I doubt, wala kaming nakikita. Ang talagang camps, ang political camps talaga na we are against political dynasties, but what we can do, they have the means and the resources,” Akol reiterated.
LENTE, on the other hand, acknowledged that while vote-buying and fake news could influence voter decisions, proactive measures can minimize their impact.
“Actually magandang communications messaging [ang] Comelec ngayon. For the past days nakita niyo nagdebunk sila na bawal ‘yung — hindi required yung I.D., hindi sila naghahanap ng 4,000 watchers,” Caritos stated.
“So imperative, when it comes to the problems of misinformation na the disinformation is addressed right away to lose somehow [the] virality ng information,” NAMFREL National Council Member Caritos added.
Meanwhile, the forum also discussed the credibility of the 2022 elections, which PPCRV defended despite ongoing questions from the group of retired Brigadier General Eliseo Rio regarding the transmission of votes in the last presidential polls that elected President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.
As the election day approaches, watchdog groups remain committed to safeguarding a transparent and credible voting process for the Filipino.
