The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) international election observers participated in Day 1 of the briefing on the Philippine electoral system, electoral landscape, and information ecosystem. ANFREL is observing the 2025 national and local elections.

ANFREL members National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) shared their on-going initiatives and efforts to ensure electoral integrity in the Philippines.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) also introduced the initiatives of the election management body to ensure free, fair and democratic conduct of the elections.

In a demonstration, the ANFREL international election observers were also able to familiarize themselves with the automated counting machines that will be used for the 2025 national and local elections in the Philippines.

Special thanks to our colleagues from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) and Hirayang Kabataan for your valuable insights. The briefing will continue on 1 May 2025 before the observers are deployed on 2 May 2025.

Read ANFREL’s statement launching the international election observation mission to the 2025 national elections here: “2025 Philippine National and Local Elections: “ANFREL Launches International Election Observation Mission”