Latest news with #OmnibusElectionCode
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
EU poll observers: Almost 50% of PH election code outdated
Poll observers from the European Union turn over their final report on the 2025 Philippine midterm national and local elections on July 2, 2025. Photo by: Comelec Nearly half of the provisions of the Omnibus Election Code, including those for campaign finance and election offenses, are already outdated, the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission reported Thursday. The EU poll observers, led by its chief Marta Temido, highlighted this in their report following the conduct of the May 12, 2025 midterm polls. "Although the election code remains the main source of electoral legislation, it is estimated that nearly half of its provisions are outdated, having been superseded by the Constitution, enacted two years after, and by numerous subsequent laws and regulations," the report read. "Specific provisions and entire sections of the electoral code that are no longer valid refer, for example, to the registration of voters and candidates, the campaign and campaign finance, voting and counting procedures, election observation and electoral offenses," the report read. Further, the poll observers' report stated that the election code has not been updated, as articles that are no longer applicable have not been repealed yet remain in place. "This [situation] is making it difficult to determine which provisions are still in force and which have been rendered inoperative by more recent legal acts," the report said. The Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, or Batas Pambansa 881, was enacted in December 1985 during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Fact-checking 'uncommon' The country's social media environment, the report added, is divided along political dynasties and the supporters, while the digital literacy of the Filipino population was deemed low to moderate. "While there are several fact-checking initiatives, the EU poll observers said verifying online news remains relatively uncommon among Filipinos," the report said. While articles and videos generally maintained a high level of discussion, the EU poll observers said the authenticity could not be said for comments sections and reactions. "EU EOM interlocutors noted that troll farms have become harder to detect due to their decentralised operations, unlike past tactics using identical messages and hashtags," the report pointed out. "The DICT reported several cases to Meta when coordinated naratives stemmed from a foreign source or when mass messages were identical, while TikTok removed three troll farms. Despite broad agreement on the issue's scale, some groups... were seen as both trolling and expressing authentic political views," the report read. To address these problems, the EU poll observes called for a sustainable support system for independent media and investigative journalism and fact checking. "Fact checking should be further strengthened and maintained, alongside continued expansion of media and digital literacy programmes for all strata of society," the report added. — VDV, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
EU observers give Comelec their final report on Eleksyon 2025
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) turns over its Final Report and Recommendations for the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections to the Commission on Elections at Comelec headquarters in Palacio del Gobernador, Intramuros, Manila on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Photo: Commission on Elections The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said it will review the recommendations of the European Union (EU) poll observers on the recent 2025 national and local elections (NLE). Members of the EU observation mission met with Comelec officials to formally turn over their final election observation report and recommendations, months after the conclusion of the May 12 midterm polls. 'Ang pangako ng lahat ng bawat isang miyembro ng Comelec kanina, aaralin at kung may mga bagay na maisasama sa proposal na revised Omnibus Election Code (OEC) ay isasama pa namin para maisaayos,' Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco told reporters. (The promise of each and every Comelec en banc member is to review the report and if there is any recommendation that may be included in the proposal for the revised OEC, then we will include it.) In April, the EU launched the election observation mission for Eleksyon 2025, deploying an initial 200 observers. More poll observers arrived in the country the following month. The international observers released their initial report on May 14, flagging widespread vote-buying; the continued dominance of political families; election-related violence, including on election day; and a legal framework that is fragmented and lacks grievance mechanisms. According to Laudiangco, among the EU poll observers' recommendations are decreasing the number of voters per precinct to shorten lines. They also reiterated the issues on vote buying, and violence, and lauded the poll body's transparency efforts, engagement with media, and expeditious actions on complaints of discrimination, and red-tagging. 'Mukhang ang susi kasi sa lahat ng nakitang observations, dalawang bagay: pagbabago sa legislation at pagpapalaki ng pondo. Kung masosolusyunan ang dalawang bagay na ito, tingin namin pareho, magagampanan namin ang sinasabi nilang international standard at mas magandang pagpapalakad ng halalan,' he added. (We saw that the key to these observations are two things: the amendment of election laws and a higher budget for the polls. If a way can be found for these, we think we will be able to attain the international standard and a better way of conducting elections.) The EU observation team said it will also submit its final report and recommendations to Congress. The Philippines held its midterm polls on May 12. — BM, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
GMA Network
18-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec lifts proclamation suspension vs. Manila councilor
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc on Wednesday lifted the suspension on the proclamation of Darwin Sia, who won a seat in the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the second district of Manila in the 2025 national and local elections (NLE). According to a ruling dated June 18, this is in compliance with a temporary restraining order (TRO) the Supreme Court (SC) issued against the Comelec decision in May. 'In compliance with the TRO issued by the SC on 22 May 2025 enjoining the Commission on Elections from implementing the Resolution of the Commission (Second Division) and the Commission (En Banc) in SPA No. 24-263 (DC) promulgated on 21 March 2025 and 05 May 2025, respectively, the Order of the Commission (En Banc) dated 12 May 2025 insofar as the Respondent Darwin B. Sia is concerned, is hereby lifted, effective immediately,' the ruling reads. 'The City Board of Canvassers of the 2nd District of Manila, are hereby directed to reconvene within five days from the receipt of this Order for the purpose of proceeding with the proclamation of Respondent as a winning candidate for the position of Member, Sangguniang Panglungsod in the 2nd District of the City of Manila,' it added. Sia was disqualified for material misrepresentation when he filed his candidacy despite being convicted of electricity pilferage, which, according to the Comelec, constitutes moral turpitude. Under the Omnibus Election Code, an individual is disqualified to be a candidate for an elective position and to hold any office if such a person has been sentenced by a final judgment for a crime involving moral turpitude. The Comelec en banc upheld the decision to cancel his COC earlier this month. Despite the Comelec's decision, Sia garnered the highest number of votes for councilor in Manila's second district in the May 12 elections. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
07-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Ombudsman asks CA to quash TRO on Gwen Garcia suspension
Ombudsman Samuel Martires has asked the Court of Appeals (CA) to quash the temporary restraining order (TRO) on the preventive suspension his office has meted against outgoing Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia. In a motion filed May 30 but furnished to GMA Integrated News on Saturday, Martires told the CA that the preventive suspension has already been implemented on April 29. The CA issued the TRO on May 15. 'But this Honorable Court closed its eyes to this very basic doctrine that 'when the acts sought to be prevented by the injunction or prohibition have already been performed or completed prior to the filing of the injunction suit, nothing more can be enjoined or restrained… the court by mere issuance of the writ, can no longer stop or undo the act,' Martires said in the motion. On April 29, the Ombudsman suspended Garcia for six months without pay over alleged grave abuse of authority for illegally granting a special permit to a construction company. But Garcia continued to defy the order and obtained a TRO from the CA. The Ombudsman refuted the basis for the TRO saying 'the implementation of this preventive suspension order will impede public service strains credulity. To be sure, petitioner Garcia's suspension will not disrupt the delivery of public services to the people of Cebu.' Martires also said that the prohibition on imposing suspension on government officials during the election period does not apply to the Ombudsman. 'It is a power directly conferred by the Constitution upon the .. Ombudsman, and the exercise of such power is unqualified and not subject to the vagaries of Congress or opinion of government officials… the Local Government Code and the Omnibus Election Code cannot supersede the constitutionally entrenched powers of the Ombudsman' he said. Martires further added that allowing the TRO to remain in effect sets a dangerous precedent. '… it (allows) petitioner Garcia to sidestep the preventive suspension sends a troubling message: that legitimate grievances and complaints of graft and corruption, properly brought before the Ombudsman, can be nullified by a provisional remedy issued in contravention of established rules and jurisprudence… it (erodes) the Ombudsman's prosecutorial and investigative powers,' he said. GMA News Online contacted Garcia for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time. —with a report from Jamil Santos/KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
31-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec affirms disqualification of Cagayan governor Mamba in 2022 polls
With just one month remaining before the terms of current local leaders expire, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has affirmed that Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba was disqualified from running in the 2022 elections and allowed Vice Governor Melvin Vargas Jr. to take his place. The poll body, sitting en banc, stood by the decision of its First Division in April 2024 to disqualify Mamba after he, along with Mabel Mamba and Francisco Mamba, who were candidates for governor, vice governor, and 3rd district representative of Cagayan province, respectively, provided financial aid, scholarship grants, and various transport vehicles to the constituents of Cagayan province using public funds during the 45-day spending ban. The First Division dismissed the petition filed by Victorio Casuay against Mabel Mamba and Francisco Mamba for being moot, as they failed to win their election bids. However, it granted the disqualification case against Mamba after he was found in violation of Section 261 (v) of the Omnibus Election Code and Comelec Resolution No. 10747, which prohibits the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds for any and all kinds of public works from March 25 to May 8, 2022. Acting on Mamba's appeal, the Comelec en banc said Mamba's duty as governor ''does not grant him unrestrained discretion in the exercise of his powers.'' ''Public officials, regardless of their position, are bound to act within the confines of the law and are subject to the limitations and restrictions imposed by applicable statutes and regulations. The mere desire to fulfill one's duties does not justify actions taken in violation of legal mandates," the resolution said. Mamba will become vice governor on June 30, the day his term as governor ends, following his victory in the May 2025 midterm elections. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News
