Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia vowed to conduct clean and honest elections as the poll regulator begins preparations for the midterm polls in May 2025.
Garcia issued the assurance as he marks his first year as the top head of the poll body, saying the Comelec has its hands full in the coming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections set in October this year.
“As I mark my first year as Chairman of the Commission on Elections, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my fellow Commissioners and to the men and women of COMELEC for your relentless dedication and support in realizing our vision. Together, we have implemented data-driven improvements to enhance the efficiency of the Commission and to increase voter registration turnout,” he said.
“We have taken significant steps to reinforce the public’s trust in our electoral process. We continue to engage all our stakeholders, including participation in key legislative initiatives, to foster an inclusive and accountable approach to electoral management and reform,” the Comelec chief said.
He also said the agency will be transparent in the 2025 automated elections as the poll body gives details of the planned lease for new vote counting machines (VCMs).
“We are eyeing to lease VCMs equipped with a new feature which can confirm if the votes cast were really counted by the machine for the 2025 elections,” Garcia said.
“I want to reaffirm my commitment to the Filipino people and to this esteemed Commission. Safeguarding the Filipino vote is a profound responsibility that we bear with utmost seriousness,” he added.
“As we move forward, let us remain steadfast in upholding fairness, integrity, transparency, and accountability in all our endeavours. With our collective efforts, we will continue to address challenges and work towards a stronger, more efficient electoral system that truly serves the need of our nation,” Garcia concluded.