Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia assured the public that the presence of international observers in the May 12 midterm elections does not amount to interference.
Garcia confirmed on Saturday that 52 international observers from countries including Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, Taiwan, Armenia, and Tajikistan are in the Philippines to monitor the polls.
“We are happy about this because in a way, it is just a symbol of their desire to see how we are coping, if there is really an improvement, what are the problems, what are the differences. It is not interference, we do not consider it interference in the election because in the end they will just observe, and perhaps make some recommendations. It is still up to us what we will accept,” he said.
Garcia noted that the observers were invited and sponsored by Comelec to showcase the transparency of the Philippine elections.
“This means that we have nothing to hide when we talk about elections,” he added.
He pointed out that the Philippines also sends delegates to observe elections in other countries, such as the recent invitation from Romania to monitor its presidential polls.
“We want them to learn something, maybe there is something new that we are doing, methods that they can adapt, and that can also help them to enhance their democracy. In the same manner, when we visit to observe their elections, we are also looking at the good aspects of their elections that we can adapt,” Garcia said.
While observers are barred from entering polling precincts on election day, Garcia said they will be deployed across the country to observe the overall electoral process. He previously welcomed observers from the US Republican Party and met with 60 others at the US Embassy.
On May 7, the European Union (EU) also sent 104 short-term observers and 72 long-term observers who will monitor both urban and rural areas, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, during the voting, counting, and canvassing process.