Manila – The European Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to the Philippines released its final report on the 12 May 2025 National Midterm Elections. The report presents the mission’s findings and conclusions following a long-term observation of the process that the Chief Observer and member of the European Parliament Marta Temido, presented today at a press conference. Temido highlighted that Philippine voters showed “a strong commitment to democratic values”despite challenges that included electoral violence, the concentration of political powers among a few families, vote buying and a legal framework marked by significant gaps and ambiguities. These shortcomings – she noted – call for a comprehensive review of the electoral legal framework and for reforms, which have also been advocated by many Filipino politicians, authorities, and the civil society.”
The report includes a total of 21 recommendations that the EU EOM, in line with its mandate, offers for the consideration of Philippines’ political and electoral authorities, political parties, civil society, and the public at large. Among these, the Chief Observer highlighted as priorities the need to recodify and harmonise the legal framework to remove discrepancies and inconsistencies, including making explicit in the legislation the right of access to polling precincts to all accredited election observers and party representatives, eliminate restrictions on the rights to vote and be elected, repealing criminal defamation provisions in favour of civil sanctions, achieving gender parity and alternation in elected and appointed positions. Temido noted that the EU EOM recommends that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) “take effective measures to ensure the secrecy of the vote for all voters, describing it as “the most effective means to address vote buying.”
The EU EOM final report finds that the COMELEC administered the elections efficiently, took proactive measures to promote inclusiveness and attempted to address entrenched vote-buying practices. “However, its extensive powers to exclude and disqualify candidates based on non-objective criteria, and to suspend the proclamation of duly elected officials are not in line with key international standards” the Chief observer explained. Before the elections, the COMELEC issued resolutions introducing changes on out-of-country voting, digital campaigning, disinformation, artificial intelligence, and campaign activities. These measures were largely welcomed, particularly those against red-tagging, vote buying, and the use of discriminatory and sexist speech. However, some resolutions effectively introduced new rules, raising concerns about legal hierarchy and certainty.
The legal framework provides a basis for democratic elections. However, the EU EOM final report finds that nearly half of the provisions of the 1985 Omnibus Election Code are outdated, leaving the electoral legislation scattered and not harmonised. Key issues remain unaddressed, namely a comprehensive regulation of political parties and provisions to curb the dominance of political families. Several laws continue to impact the human rights and electoral environment.
The report notes COMELEC’s extensive discretionary powers over candidate registration, including the authority to reject “nuisance candidates” based on a subjective assessment of their credibility. In this regard, the EU EOM concludes that such approach has posed challenges for newcomers, reinforcing public perceptions that elections are dominated by elites, limiting political pluralism and establishing an uneven playing field.
Freedom of the press was respected during the campaign. However, long-standing challenges persisted, including attacks and intimidation against journalists, economic vulnerability and a prevailing culture of impunity. Disinformation had a limited impact on the online election campaign, in part due to COMELEC’s efforts, including the establishment of a task force that collaborated with 24 organisations to identify and remove harmful content. The EU EOM social media monitoring unit findings showed that some candidates boosted their campaigns by artificially increasing their followers.
Chief Observer Marta Temido expressed confidence that the Philippines will continue their reform journey, emphasising that core principles as inclusivity, transparency, secrecy of the vote and freedom of expression are central to the success of these reforms. “The European Union stands ready to support the Philippines in implementing these recommendations to further strengthen the country’s democratic path” she concluded.
Upon the invitation of Philippine authorities, the EU EOM carried out its work between 28 March and 2 June 2025. The mission deployed 226 observers from all EU Member States, as well as from Canada, Norway and Switzerland. All the mission’s reports and statements can be found here: philippines2025.eueom.eu.
