De Lima: Comelec can allow foreign poll observers conditionally

Election lawyer and former senator Leila de Lima stated that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has the authority to conditionally allow foreign election observers inside polling places.

This statement comes in response to Comelec Chairman George Garcia's earlier denial of a request from European Union (EU) election observers to access polling precincts on election day, May 12.

Garcia had cited Philippine law, specifically the 1987 Constitution and the Omnibus Election Code, as the basis for disallowing foreign observers.

De Lima acknowledged that the Omnibus Election Code limits who can be inside a polling precinct to voters, electoral board members, and watchers.

She also noted that even armed personnel are restricted from being inside or too close to polling precincts, with a specified radius outside.

Despite the legal limitations, De Lima suggested that Comelec may still permit EU observers under specific conditions.

The EU observers had previously emphasized the crucial role of precinct access in their observation work.