𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Quezon City, May 5, 2025-- As the country prepares for yet another electoral cycle, we at the Center for People Empowerment in Governance—or CenPEG—feel compelled to raise an urgent alarm. The integrity of the upcoming elections is under serious threat. We are seeing the same patterns of systemic neglect, manipulation, and erosion of public trust that have plagued our elections for years—only now, they are growing worse.

First, let’s talk about electoral reform. For decades, civil society organizations, including CenPEG, have consistently pushed for greater transparency, accountability, and public participation in our electoral processes. Yet, year after year, our recommendations are shelved. Our calls are ignored. The institutions that are supposed to safeguard democracy continue to operate in denseness, and with little regard for reform.

Second, the pilot testing of online voting systems raises serious concerns. These digital platforms are riddled with security flaws. They are prone to hacking. They lack audit trails. And worse, they are being implemented without the full confidence of the public. Imagine an election where votes can be altered without a trace—that’s the risk we face if these systems are rushed without proper safeguards.

Third, the Automated Election System, or AES, continues to function behind closed doors. The source code review, which is essential for transparency, remains tightly controlled and inaccessible to independent experts. To this day, we do not have a credible, internationally recognized audit of the system. This secrecy fosters suspicion—and rightly so.

Fourth, we cannot ignore the deep entrenchment of political dynasties in our political system. These dynasties dominate both local and national races. They exploit state resources. They engage in vote-buying. And they perpetuate a culture of patronage and coercion that undermines the free and fair choice of the people.

Fifth, electoral authorities remain resistant to manual audits and verification. Manual counting, especially in close or contested races, is not just a demand—it is a democratic safeguard. Yet these calls have been brushed aside time and again, allowing vulnerabilities in electronic counting to go unchecked.

And finally, we see other troubling signs:

• Vote-buying and selling

• Campaign finance laws are weakly enforced.

• Violence and harassment against independent and opposition candidates persist.

• Election-related institutions—from Comelec to law enforcement—are being politicized.

• Disinformation campaigns continue to deceive voters.

• And voter education remains inadequate.

These indicators, taken together, paint a grim picture. They suggest that we are heading into an election that may be compromised before it even begins.

But we are not powerless.

Today, CenPEG calls on civil society, the media, the academe, and the international community: Let us act now. Let us intensify our vigilance. Let us demand transparency and accountability. Let us push for real, systemic reforms—before it’s too late.

CenPEG will do its part. We will continue to monitor the electoral process. We will publish our findings. And we will speak truth to power to defend the sanctity of the vote and the democratic rights of every Filipino.

The future of our democracy depends on what we do today###

For interviews or additional statements, please contact:

cenpeg.info@gmail.com | 0917 1141405 | www.cenpeg.org