1 month ago
13
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
Mayen Jaymalin - The Philippine Star
April 15, 2025 | 12:00am
Among the recipients of show-cause orders are local candidates in San Miguel, Bulacan and Puerto Princesa, Palawan and a mayoral bet in Laguna, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said yesterday.
Philstar.com / Irra Lising
MANILA, Philippines — Sixty-three candidates and party-list groups allegedly buying votes and abusing state resources will receive show-cause orders, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Among the recipients of show-cause orders are local candidates in San Miguel, Bulacan and Puerto Princesa, Palawan and a mayoral bet in Laguna, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said yesterday.
The public should post on social media poll-related violations committed by candidates and party-list groups, he said.
Voter turnout
Meanwhile, over half of 1.23 million registered Filipino voters abroad are expected to cast their votes in the May midterm elections, Garcia said.
A 55 to 60 percent overseas voting turnout is being targeted by the Comelec, he noted.
Voter turnout is commonly low during midterm elections, but Garcia said they are hoping for a higher turnout since the poll body is adopting internet voting overseas for the first time.
The Comelec is prohibited from disclosing the number of Filipinos who cast their votes since overseas voting started Sunday, Garcia said.
About 55,000 of 1.231 million Filipino voters abroad have enrolled for internet voting as of yesterday, he noted.
The number is expected to increase until May 7, the last day of enrollment, he said. Enrollment began on March 20.
Vote counting begins when overseas voting ends on May 12, Garcia said.
Garcia has allayed fears of some Filipinos abroad that votes would not be counted if they voted online.
Since data is encrypted, Garcia clarified that overseas voters cannot review their votes.
Internet voting can be audited, Garcia said, noting that it underwent source code review and no secret instructions were found.
Meanwhile, Malacañang has called on absentee voters overseas to support candidates who will not “sell” the country.
“Our message from the Palace is to perform your duty as Filipinos. Vote for the deserving ones. Vote from the heart. Do not vote because you were prodded to do so or because you were paid,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said yesterday at a press briefing.
“Vote for those who are deserving, people we can rely on, leaders who will not sell the country in any manner and leaders who are patriotic,” she added.
No power outage
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has called on the government to ensure that there will be no power outage during the elections.
“Any threat of a power outage during the May elections is a threat to the credibility of the entire electoral process,” he said.
The Comelec and Department of Energy should coordinate with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, power generators, distribution utilities and electric cooperatives to guarantee uninterrupted and stable power on election day and during vote canvassing, he said. — Alexis Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe
