Days before the start of the 2025 midterm elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia gave voters and political aspirants his final reminders to ensure a smooth election day on May 12.
During an interview on DZRH's Special on Saturday, Garcia confirmed that all ballots have been distributed to the municipal and city treasurers nationwide, ahead of Monday’s election day. He furthered that these ballots were then handed out to teachers in various parts of the country, including those living in far-flung areas.
Meanwhile, Garcia mentioned that the red category areas for the upcoming elections remain the same, including those put under Comelec control.
“Hindi naman po yung ating 36 [na] red category areas, yan pa rin po. At kahit po doon sa dalawang…Comelec controlled hanggang sa kasalukuyan, ito pa rin po yung mga Comelec controlled areas,” Garcia said.
The Comelec Chairman also pointed out that this year’s election preparations are going smoothly, compared to the 2019 and 2022 elections. He also mentioned that in 2024, they verified around 40 election-related incidents since October that year.
Vote Buying
When asked about the challenges that Comelec has identified in this election, Garcia pointed out that vote buying is still prevalent and is monitored in several areas nationwide. Garcia added that they are investigating the matter, which is being led by the Committee on Kontra Bigay.
Garcia was also asked about other options, like e-wallets, when receiving money from candidates who engage in vote buying. However, he assured that they are working closely with GCash, Pay Maya, and similar platforms to prevent this from happening.
“So far po, kung napansin niyo, wala pong nakakapamili [o vote buy] gamit ang GCash o Pay Maya at ibang platform. Kaya pong madami bumili doon sa traditional na pagbibigay. Kaya humahaba yung pila ng ilang lugar na atin pong iniimbestigahan,” he said.
Early voting and Mall voting
Apart from this, Garcia said that senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs) may opt to vote during the early voting hours.
“Siyempre yung pag boto po ng ating kababayan na nakatatanda…meron po tayong early voting para sa mga senior citizens, sa mga may kapansanan at mga nagdadalang tao, 5 AM pwede na po silang maka boto sa Lunes,” he suggested.
“Hindi na nila kailangang sumabay sa pag boto ng ibang botante. Para naman hindi mainit, hindi mahaba ang pila, hindi sila nasasaktan,” he added.
Additionally, voters are also given the option of casting their votes at the 42 malls participating in “mall voting.”
“Meron din po tayong tinatawag na mall voting. 42 malls na magpaparticipate sa buong Pilipinas na kung saan yung mga botante na ang tirahan o yung dati nilang presinto ay sa paligid ng malls. Doon sa 42 malls na yan, doon po sila boboto. At sila po ay properly informed tungkol sa bagay na yan,” he said.
“Siyempre, wala pong vote buying, wala pong violence, wala terrorism; may mag-aalaga pag sila ay pumasok at kailangan ng wheelchair, at siyempre medyo malamig sa loob ng mall,” he added.
On the disqualification cases filed
Garcia mentioned they have yet to finish reviewing all the disqualification cases filed, considering that most of them were filed days before the election day. However, he assured that they have the power to suspend a winning candidate’s proclamation.
“Ang atin naman pong paliwanag doon, tama po na may kapangyarihan kami na mag suspend nung proklamasyon ng mananalong kandidato. Lalo’t meron sila na kasong disqualification basta ba, mabigat dapat ang ebidensya at may merit yung kaso,” he said.
“Huwag pong mag-alala ang lahat, sapagkat kahit po na proklama ang mga yan…at nakapag oath, may jurisdiction pa rin ang Comelec. Pwede pa rin namin silang tanggalin kahit pa nanunungkulan na, nasa amin po yung kapagyarihan…” he continued.
Final reminders for voters
Garcia reminded candidates that campaigns should stop by 12:01 PM today, adding that this also includes campaigns on social media. They are also told to refrain from distributing sample ballots and using children to distribute them.
“Huwag magdidistribute ng mga sample ballots, at huwag gagamitin ang mga bata sa pagdi distribute ng sample ballots. Kasi nga po bawal na ito, tapos gagamit pa tayo ng bata para hindi naaresto, lalo na sa araw ng Lunes,” Garcia stressed.
Meanwhile, voters are asked to bring a list of the candidates they will vote for and review the candidates’ experience or plans if elected.
“At sa atin pong mga botante, sana po bago kayo pumunta sa presinto, may dala na tayong listahan, may kodigo na po tayo. Para mas mabilis ang pag boto natin. Base sa konsensya, base sa saloobin, base sa pagkakakilala natin sa mga kandidatong yan,” he said.
“Hindi po dahil sa sikat, nakikita sa TV, dyaryo, [at] social media, kaya lang natin sila iboboto. Iisipin natin, tingnan niyo ang inyong mga anak, ang inyong mga asawa, ang inyong mga kamag anak. Tingnan niyo ang inyong mga sarili niyo, at itanong niyo sa salamin, anong bayan ang gusto mong mangyari sa kinabuksan? Yan po ang magiging kasagutan pag bumoboto na tayo sa araw ng halalan,” he added.
