MANILA, Philippines – The European Union Election Observation Missions (EU EOMs) cannot ensure a “meaningful observation” after the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) revoked access to the polling precincts on Monday, 12 May 2025.
In a statement, the EU EOM lamented that it cannot observe the “voting phase” done in the polling precincts.
For this reason, the Mission did not deploy the whole team of observers as originally planned, the EU EOM mentioned.
In a press briefing earlier, COMELEC Chairman George Garcia confirmed that the poll body denied the entry of foreign observers inside the polling precincts, saying it would violate the Omnibus Election Code, as well as unduly influence the voters.
“As part of the EU methodology, prior to deployment, on 12 March, the EU and the Philippine authorities signed a mutual commitment granting to the EU EOM freedom of access, at any time, to all polling precincts and the canvassing centres and also ensuring that all mission members shall abide by the COMELEC’s International Election Observer Accreditation Guidelines and the EU EOM code of conduct,” the EU EOM said.
“Following COMELEC’s recent letters and instructions, the EU EOM found that it was no longer granted the necessary guarantees for adequate access to polling precincts, which is an essential element of the EU’s observation methodology,” the EU EOM added.
The Mission explained that it has developed a “well-established” and “widely respected methodology,” consistently applied during observation in over 75 countries.
The EU observes elections in the same manner in all countries where it is invited, guided by principles of objectivity, independence, non-interference and a comprehensive, long-term approach covering all phases of the electoral process, including voting proceedings, the Mission stated.
According to the Mission, the Philippines invited the EU to observe the 2025 National Midterm Elections.
The EU EOM will present its Preliminary Statement with its finding and conclusions on the electoral process in a press conference scheduled on 14 May 2025.
