THE National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) said Monday, May 12, 2025, that the conduct of elections has so far been smooth and peaceful.
In a statement, the election watchdog said that most polling centers across the country opened on time, with the electoral boards, machines, and election paraphernalia all present.
It said this showed that the Commission on Election Electoral Boards (EBs) are well-prepared in general, citing their adequate handling of the process inside the polling places.
The group, however, noted various concerns, such as allowing regular voters to begin voting even while many members of vulnerable sectors were still in line due to the delayed opening of early voting dedicated to senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.
Also among the problems observed were overcrowding at voter assistance desks, in holding areas, and hallways; a lack of chairs for members of vulnerable sectors to sit on; and the inability of voter assistance desk assistants and volunteers to meet the demand.
“As of 11:30 a.m., Namfrel observers reported high voter turnout in more than 83 percent of voting centers observed,” said Namfrel.
“Like in previous elections, it was also observed that a big part of the voters' time spent inside the voting center was trying to determine whether they are on the voter list, trying to find their precinct number, and trying to locate their polling place: information that voters could have already obtained, or have been provided to them, prior to election day,” it added.
The Namfrel deployed hundreds of volunteers in polling centers across the country to observe the ongoing 2025 national and local polls. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)