Palace tells Filipinos: Be vigilant vs election irregularities

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Monday called on Filipinos to be vigilant against election irregularities as the canvassing for the midterm elections begin.

“As counting begins, we call on everyone to be vigilant and be on guard against any act of irregularity in the election,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

“The electoral fraud comes when the voters do not participate or involve themselves after they cast their votes. Let us not allow those who seek to destroy our democratic process and trample our sacred votes have their way,” he added.

The Palace official urged the public to respect the results of the elections.

“May the results of this year’s elections reflect the genuine will of the electorate and should it be so, we urge everyone to support those democratically chosen for the betterment of the Filipino people,” he said.

“And to those who will be proclaimed elected in whatever position they aspired for, we urge them to be fealty to their duties imposed by law and to serve their constituents well and with dedication,” he added.

On Monday, malfunctioned vote counting machines (VCMs) marred the elections but Panelo said the polls were “generally peaceful.”

He cited the “usual confusion, queueing and complaint on faulty vote counting machines on Election Day” but said that “no major untoward incident disrupted the holding of this year’s elections.”

He hailed “authorities for their extra vigilance and strict enforcement of election laws, including the apprehension of persons for violations of the gun ban, liquor ban, and vote buying.”

“We express our gratitude to our teachers for their sacrifice as members of the Election Board, ensuring that the elections from the registration, actual voting and counting are clean and credible,” he said.

“We likewise thank our people for taking part in this healthy democratic exercise and sacred ritual of choosing the individuals who they believe can help in governing this nation and their respective localities,” he added.