The Philippine mid-term elections on May 12, 2025, drew sharp criticism from international observers who flagged widespread irregularities. The European Union Election Observation Mission (EOM), deployed to monitor the polls, reported rampant vote-buying, violence, and restricted access to polling centers.
EOM Chief Observer Marta Temido said, “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).”
The EOM also documented “unacceptable levels” of election-related violence, with at least 30 people killed during the campaign and 10 more on election day. Violence was especially severe in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The EOM further criticized Comelec for denying their observers access to eight precincts despite prior written assurances.
Meanwhile, the International Observer Mission (IOM), composed of global human rights advocates, raised concerns over widespread technical issues and voter disenfranchisement. These included malfunctioning automated counting machines (ACMs), invalidated ballots due to alleged overvoting, and suspicious software behavior. In Zamboanga, voters reported discrepancies between their ballots and printed receipts, raising fears of vote tampering.
Besides this, the IOM pointed out the numerous incidents of IOM Commissioner Colleen Moore said, “We’ve observed a disturbing pattern: escalating violence, red-tagging of candidates and supporters, and coordinated disinformation against progressive voices.” She added that the incidents are not isolated incidents, and created a “chilling atmosphere that compromises the safety and freedom of voters.”
The IOM cited Vote Report PH’s report of 1,445 incidents of red-The IOM also cited rampant election-related violence, armed attacks, and riots. Commissioner Colleen Moore described a “chilling atmosphere,” marked by escalating violence, red-tagging of opposition candidates, and disinformation campaigns targeting progressive voices.
Vote Report PH recorded 1,445 cases of red-tagging during the campaign, with attacks intensifying on election day. Flyers and posters maligning progressive candidates were circulated in the Cordillera region, Southern Luzon, Negros, and Mindanao.
In a related development, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) condemned President Marcos for aligning with U.S. interests amid rising tensions in the South China Sea. The CPP urged unity among Southeast Asian nations to pressure China to honor the 2016 International Arbitral Tribunal ruling, advocating for peaceful dialogue in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).