THE recent statement of the Archdiocesan Commission on Elections Monitoring Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (ACE-COM PPCRV) in Davao has raised not just the eyebrows of voters but also sent shivers down the spine.
Time and time again, we have been taught and warned that the integrity of elections is a sacred pillar, and it must be safeguarded by everyone, not just by one sector of a society, with vigilance and transparency. This lesson of truth resonates louder than ever in the wake of ACE-COM PPCRV's statement. The message's tone is not merely one of disappointment but a clear call to every Filipino: Your vote is sacred. Watch over it.
The ACE-COM PPCRV, a long-standing and accredited election watchdog, has publicly expressed alarm over what it describes as a troubling lack of transparency in the preparations for the upcoming May 12, 2025, elections. Particularly concerning is the revelation that certain agencies or groups may have been granted immunity or exemptions from the usual electoral processes — absentee voting arrangements — without clear explanation or notification to accredited observers.
While as of press time, the Comelec-Davao has yet to issue its statement and clarification regarding the ACE-COM PPCRV's claims, the issue is not just procedural; it is deeply ethical. The right to vote and the systems that protect that right are not privileges to be selectively shared or concealed. Transparency is not optional — it is the bedrock upon which trust in electoral outcomes is built. When credible observers like the ACE-COM PPCRV are sidelined or left in the dark, the public is not just uninformed — they are disempowered. And that disempowerment threatens the very heart of our democracy.
The concern signed by Fr. Leonardo Dublan Jr. and Jimmie-Loe P. Dela Vega is not just institutional; it is deeply human. It reflects the unease of a community that understands the weight of each ballot cast. In a time when disinformation, manipulation, and public apathy can all undermine electoral integrity, independent monitors play a critical role in ensuring that every vote is counted fairly — and that no decision is made behind closed doors.
Full disclosure about any exemptions granted, especially to government agencies or offices involved in absentee voting, is not a courtesy — it is an obligation. Election watchdogs like the ACE-COM PPCRV must be allowed to observe, verify, and report on all aspects of the process. Anything less is a step toward a dangerous erosion of public confidence.
Let this moment serve as a wake-up call: the future of Dabawenyos, and indeed of all Filipinos, is decided not just on election day, but in the days and weeks leading up to it. Voters must remain informed, engaged, and vigilant. We must demand accountability not only from those who seek our vote, but also from the institutions tasked with protecting it.
As citizens, we are not passive recipients of democracy — we are its stewards. If election observers are kept in the dark, we must shine a light. If questions are left unanswered, we must raise our voices. Because the vote we cast is not only for ourselves — it is for the generations that follow.
Your vote is sacred. Watch over it. Not just on May 12 — but every day until then, and every day after. Democracy depends on it.