The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) met today, 14 January 2025, to discuss the hosting of the seventh Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF) in the Philippines.

AESF is a platform for election management bodies (EMBs), civil society organizations (CSO), and stakeholders across Asia to engage in dialogue, share experiences, and promote democratic values.

ANFREL Executive Director Brizza Rosales presented the overview of AESF with emphasis on the ANFREL’s role in promoting electoral integrity in Asia.

ANFREL members in the Philippines — the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) — came in full force to present plans to the COMELEC for the co-hosting of AESF-VII in Manila.

COMELEC, led by Chairperson George Erwin Garcia, Commissioner Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda Jr. and Atty Lour Alcain, the chief of staff of the Office of Commissioner Celis, affirmed their commitment to co-host AESF-VII with potential partnership with the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) and the Association of Asian Election Authorities.

Dir. Frances Arabe (Special Assistant to the Chairperson), Dir. Ian Geonanga (Director of the Office for Overseas Voting), Dir. Elaiza David (Director of the Protocol and Liaison Office), and Dir. Jose Nick Mendros (Project Management Office) were also present during the meeting.

AESF-VII will focus on the advancement in election technology, fostering inclusion, and addressing challenges such as political corruption and democratic backsliding.

AESF-VII is tentatively scheduled for February or March 2026. A working committee will be created to finalize the details, logistics of AESF-VII.

AESF promotes effective and transparent collaboration, shares best practices, and addresses common challenges in electoral processes. AESF, organized in partnership with EMBs, has taken place in Bangkok, Thailand (2012), Dili, Timor-Leste (2015), Bali, Indonesia (2016), Colombo, Sri Lanka (2018), Online (2020), and Kathmandu, Nepal (2023).