EU mission: Widespread vote buying in PH elections

The European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission reported that vote buying remains endemic during the Philippine midterm elections, despite stricter regulations by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Marta Temido, chief observer of the mission, noted widespread vote-buying and election-related violence, with poverty being a root cause of such practices.

The EU observers witnessed several credible indications and received reports of vote-buying through cash and goods, as well as partisan distribution of welfare payouts (ayuda), in multiple provinces including Bohol, Davao Oriental, La Union, Palawan, Quezon, Siquijor, Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Sur.

The mission also observed 'bidding wars' among contestants competing to buy votes and flagged the politically-motivated distribution of rice bags bearing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s initials and free public transportation in Manila during Labor Day weekend.

Despite challenges including the denial of access to polling precincts by Comelec, which they view as a breach of their earlier agreement, voter turnout was impressively high on May 12, demonstrating strong civic engagement in the Philippines.