Global Report Cites ‘Fraud’, ‘Rights Abuses’ in PH Elections

By Juliane Judilla

The 2025 Philippine midterm elections “did not meet international standards for free and fair elections,” according to the final report of the International Observer Mission (IOM), which cited widespread human rights violations, electoral fraud, militarization and foreign interference.

Led by the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, the mission included more than 50 global advocates and partnered with local watchdogs Kontra Daya and Vote Report PH.

The IOM documented 545 electoral violations, depicting an election marred by manipulation and suppression.

Key findings included voter disenfranchisement, rampant vote-buying, human rights violations by public and private actors, and foreign meddling in local political affairs.

“These elections violated key articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the Philippines is a state party,” said Peter Murphy, ICHRP Global Council chairperson.

Grave Violations

The report detailed widespread disenfranchisement due to malfunctioning automated counting machines, misread or pre-marked ballots and inaccessible voting systems for Filipinos overseas.

Voter turnout among overseas Filipino workers dropped to 18.12%, blamed on system failures and red tape.

Many workers and residents of poor communities were unable to vote, as May 13 was not declared a paid holiday.

The IOM recorded 111 incidents of vote-buying, including reports of up to PHP16,000 (USD289) per vote.

While the Commission on Elections received 158 complaints, it reportedly imposed few penalties.

“Mass poverty and entrenched inequality have enabled political dynasties and business-funded candidates to distort electoral outcomes,” Murphy said.

Militarization and Red-Tagging

The mission also reported intensified militarization in rural and contested areas, along with widespread red-tagging of progressive candidates and activists.

It recorded 112 direct cases of red-tagging, while Vote Report PH documented 1,445 additional reports.

“The red-tagging of progressive candidates, vote-buying, disenfranchisement and militarization are not isolated problems,” said IOM Commissioner Andrea Mann.

“These reflect a deeply compromised system,” she added.

The report noted a disturbing pattern of coordinated smear campaigns branding opposition figures as “communists” or “terrorists.”

In some provinces, children were interrogated by soldiers, and entire communities were reportedly pressured to sign “surrender papers” to receive aid.

“These abuses are not just electoral violations—they are also violations of human rights and international humanitarian law,” said IOM Commissioner Lee Rhiannon.

The IOM criticized the overlap of the U.S.-Philippine Balikatan military exercises with the election period, citing the presence of more than 15,000 troops, including foreign forces.

Commissioner Colleen Moore said the exercises distorted the democratic space.

“These war games were framed as defensive exercises, but in truth, they cultivated fear and skewed public opinion toward pro-U.S., pro-Marcos candidates,” Moore said.

The IOM urged the Philippine government to adopt a hybrid electoral system and declare Election Day a paid holiday.

It also called for the passage of the Anti-Dynasty Bill, criminalization of red-tagging and repeal of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

Additional recommendations included abolishing the NTF-ELCAC and rejoining the International Criminal Court.

These reforms, the mission stated, are essential to restoring democratic space and ensuring accountability.