EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) congratulates the Filipino voters, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), and all stakeholders for their unwavering determination and mass participation to uphold democracy through the conduct of the 2025 National and Local elections despite operational challenges and a climate of political uncertainty. A total of 68,431,965 individuals registered to vote in the 2025 elections, with the initial estimated turnout reaching 81.65%—the highest ever recorded in the history of Philippine midterm elections.

ANFREL deployed its International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) for the 2025 Philippines National and Local Midterm Elections on 27 April 2025, comprising a team of 21 observers covering 11 regions across the country. The mission covered key aspects of the electoral process, including the campaign period, election day, and post-election environment. ANFREL observed several key highlights of the 2025 elections, including enhanced transparency, sustained efforts toward inclusivity, and high voter participation. However, the mission also identified areas requiring improvement, such as limited electoral competition, the persistent challenges such as abuse of state resources, vote buying and vote selling, campaign finance issues, operational and management issues on the election day, and issues related to the regulation of social media. 

The COMELEC effectively administered the 2025 elections, introducing a range of new resolutions and institutional mechanisms since 2022 aimed at addressing challenges identified in previous electoral cycles and enhancing overall electoral processes. 

While COMELEC has shown strong institutional commitment through new resolutions and outreach efforts, significant challenges remain in the enforcement of electoral laws and in ensuring equitable competition. Legal restrictions on COMELEC’s jurisdiction prior to the official campaign period continue to limit its ability to address early instances of vote-buying and the misuse/abuse of state resources — practices that remain widespread and sophisticated.

Political campaigns remain dominated by personalities rather than policies, with many voters basing decisions on candidate visibility and material benefits. There are continued issues related to the entrenched power of political dynasties and weak political parties. In many districts, races were uncontested, and substantive policy debates were largely absent from the public discourse — often supplanted by social media-driven popularity contests lacking concrete campaign platforms or commitments.

Efforts by COMELEC to improve inclusion were notable and welcome, with the rollout of Accessible Polling Place (APP) and Priority Polling Places (PPP) and the full implementation of early voting hours for persons with disability, senior citizens and pregnant women. COMELEC’s steps in this regard were generally well received, although challenges remain in infrastructure and Election Day preparedness. 

COMELEC introduced new digital campaign regulations in response to these evolving dynamics and collaborated with civil society and tech platforms to encourage responsible online campaigning. However, ANFREL observed that enforcement remains uneven, and calls for a systematic review and strengthening of these policies. The shrinking capacity of traditional media has left accountability gaps that civil society actors have sought to fill, though this shift has also created more space for unchecked disinformation. These developments underscore the urgent need to reinforce regulatory frameworks, enhance media literacy, and invest in long-term digital resilience to safeguard electoral integrity in the Philippines.

The misuse/abuse of state resources, especially social welfare programs, alongside rampant and widespread vote-buying, continues to blight the electoral landscape. Such practices have become so institutionalized that for many voters, participation in elections is increasingly shaped by the expectation of payment. 

In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), observers noted delayed openings and voter frustration in some polling areas. The BARMM’s continued vulnerability to political intimidation, misuse of aid, and fragile security underscores the importance of sustained engagement ahead of its upcoming October Parliamentary Elections.

Election Day was generally orderly, with most polling stations managing procedures effectively. Innovations such as early voting hours and continued practices, like dedicated polling places for vulnerable groups were successfully implemented. However, issues such as crowd management, technical malfunctions with voting machines, ballot secrecy concerns, and enforcement of campaign material restrictions remain areas for improvement.

The post-election period will be critical in ensuring transparency, the effective resolution of complaints, and continued institutional learning. ANFREL urges the Philippine electoral authorities, civil society, political actors, and international partners to work collaboratively toward strengthening the legal framework, addressing long-standing electoral vulnerabilities, and ensuring inclusive and credible future elections.

Download the full interim report here: “ANFREL International Election Observation Mission to the 2025 Philippines National and Local Midterm Elections: INTERIM REPORT“