Five days before the elections, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to the Philippines deployed 104 short-term observers across the country.
This marked the deployment of the third group of EU EOM observers, following the arrival of a core team of analysts at the end of March, and the deployment of 72 long-term observers in mid-April.
“The 104 short-term observers will be deployed across all regions of the Philippines, in both urban and rural areas. Together with the core team and the long-term observers, they will enhance the mission’s presence, reach, and capacity on election day, as well as during the polling, automated counting, and canvassing of results,” Chief Observer Marta Temido said during a press conference in Manila.
“On election-day, the EU observers will be mobile on the ground, visiting different precincts from the opening at 5 a.m. to the closing at 7 p.m. Then, each team will observe the closing procedures at one polling precinct and remain there until the counting operations are over,” she added.
After each visit, the observers will fill out an observation form and send it to EU EOM headquarters in Manila. The teams will also observe the functioning of the election technology.
In addition to the short-term observers and the 72 long-term observers, a delegation of the European Parliament and a further 20 accredited members of the diplomatic community from EU member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland joined the EU EOM. There is at least a total of 226 observers now in the country. They will cover all regions of the Philippines from 76 locations in the provinces and cities.
The EU EOM will issue a preliminary statement on findings at a press conference on May 14 in Manila. This statement will be published on the EU EOM website, distributed to the press, and made available to all Philippine citizens and the authorities.
A final report with recommendations will be presented in the country approximately two months after the elections. “Constructive recommendations will be the legacy of our mission, offered to the consideration of people and authorities in the same spirit of cooperation and partnership with the Philippines that marks our presence in the country since our arrival,” Temido said in closing.
The European Union was invited to observe the elections by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Government of the Philippines. The EU EOM is independent and impartial, abiding by the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and its Code of Conduct, as well as the laws of the Philippines.
