Foreign election observers back PPCRV quick count

By MAYEN JAYMALIN

A group of international election observers yesterday gave its full support to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)’s decision to proceed with its unofficial and partial quick count.

Swede Leif Pettersson said the PPCRV should continue and not give in to calls to suspend the ongoing unofficial quick count of ballots for the presidential race.

“While quick counts are unofficial, they are part and parcel of any genuine electoral democracy. It adds to greater transparency and serves as an important check and balance to the government’s official election count,” Pettersson said.

The PPCRV earlier junked the call of vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to stop its partial, unofficial tally.

Marcos is trailing Liberal Party candidate Leni Robredo by a slim margin.

According to Marcos, the PPCRV and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should stop the unofficial count to avoid confusion.

Pettersson rebuffed the senator, saying the unofficial quick count advances the interest of an active and vigilant citizenry.

Pettersson and 14 other delegates from the US, Japan and Sweden composed the international mission organized by election watchdog Compact for Peaceful and Democratic Elections International Observers Mission (Compact-IOM) to monitor the conduct and outcome of the elections.

The group went to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ( ARMM), Bohol, Dinagat Island and Isabela.

German youth leader Anushka Ruge observed that on May 9, there were numerous complaints about the malfunctioning vote counting machines (VCMs), which delayed the voting process as well as reports of vote-buying and electionrelated violence.

Ruge said the conduct of national and local elections was credible and generally peaceful despite the glitches.

The foreign observers lauded the Comelec and the people for the successful elections despite reports of glitches and irregularities.

They said the 81 percent voter turnout was astonishing and indicated the Filipinos’ commitment to electoral democracy.

The group proposed the use of more voter- friendly precincts, additional compensation for teachers serving as Board of Election Inspectors and passage of Anti- Dynasty bill.

They stressed the need for the acquisition of new VCMs that can withstand hot weather and the improvement in the voting experience for disabled, senior citizens and pregnant women.

Compact-IOM said it would submit the observation and recommendation of the foreign observers to the Comelec.

Spain congratulates Pinoys

Meanwhile, the government of Spain congratulated the Filipino people for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections.

It also congratulated Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for winning the presidential race.

The Spanish government offered to support the incoming president and committed to continue the cooperation and friendship between the Philippines and Spain.