Philippine Catholics, activists call for free, fair election - UCA News (2025)

Catholic and civil rights groups have called on the Philippine government, candidates and citizens to ensure free and fair midterm elections next month amid concerns about political polarization, misuse of state funds, and disinformation campaigns.

The Catholic-majority nation of 115 million goes to mid-term polls for 18,000 national and local posts up for grabs on May 12.

About 70 million Filipino registered voters will cast their ballots in about 439,500 polling stations across the country, according to the national election commission.

The Asian Network for Free Elections, a regional watchdog, issued a statement, saying it was concerned about misuse of state funds by public officials seeking re-election.

It also noted that a political polarization is intensifying amid an ongoing feud between supporters of current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte was arrested and flown out of the country recently by Interpol following war crimes charges leveled against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the deadly anti-drug war that left thousands extrajudicially killed during his tenure.

His daughter, Vice-President Sara Duterte, faces impeachment for corruption and abuse of power.

However, Duterte is still running for mayor of Davao City, which he governed for 22 years before becoming the president in 2016. Despite the charges he faces,Duterte did not withdraw his candidacy.

Catholic Church’s social arm Caritas Philippines called on the voters to elect leaders who can serve them properly.

“The 2025 Midterm Election is fast approaching, presenting an opportunity for the Filipino voting population to elect public servants who will tackle urgent economic, social, ecological, and other crises confronting our country today,” the agency said in a media advisory on April 10.

The integrity of the election faces serious concerns due to various challenges such as rampant power cuts and corruption, the agency noted.

On April 11, a civil society coalition is expected to launch a campaign to raise awareness against corruption and fraud during the election in national capital Manila. Caritas is a part of the coalition.

Catholic priest Chris Arthur Militante, spokesperson of the Palo Archdiocese in the central Philippines, told UCA News that free and fair election “is the church’s constant call.”

In Eastern Visayas region, the National Police announced the deployment of additional personnel in key areas in the region “to ensure a safe, orderly, and peaceful electoral process.”

Major Analiza Armeza, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas, said they have 871 augmented personnel to help secure the elections.

The National Police headquarters in Manila said that a total of 6,327 checkpoints have been set up across the country to enforce a strict gun ban and deter election-related violence.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said that 34 volatile election hotspots have been identified in 82 provinces in the country.

Of them, 27 are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, covering Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi provinces in Muslim-majority Mindanao Island in southern Philippines, it noted.

The Philippines witnessed the worst election-time violence on Nov. 23, 2009, when 58 people, including 32 journalists, were killed in Maguindanao, Mindanao.

The National Commission on Human Rights warned this week about rising electoral offenses, communist-labeling of candidates, and sexist remarks during campaigns.

“The Commission also takes this opportunity to remind both the public and candidates to ensure that electoral discourse remains inclusive, respectful, and free from discrimination, misogyny, and hate,” it said in a statement on April 5.

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