In an alarming turn of events, the Archdiocesan Commission on Elections Monitoring (ACE-COM) and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in Davao City have publicly expressed deep disappointment over the glaring lack of transparency by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in the ongoing absentee voting process, which runs from April 27 to April 30, 2025.
As accredited election watchdogs, ACE-COM PPCRV is mandated to monitor and ensure the integrity of the electoral process. However, they revealed that they were kept completely in the dark regarding the agencies and government offices that requested and were granted exemptions to participate in absentee voting. This grave omission is unacceptable, especially during a time when transparency must be at the forefront to uphold the credibility of the upcoming May 12 elections.
“We call on COMELEC XI to uphold transparency in all aspects of the electoral process,” ACE-COM PPCRV asserted. “Our unequivocal right as citizen watchdogs is to be fully informed about every detail of activities, agencies, and requests relating to the elections, particularly absentee voting, so that we can observe and verify the process firsthand.”
Their statement stressed that without their knowledge and participation, the very foundation of democracy is put at risk. “Any secrecy or withholding of information compromises public trust and casts a dark shadow over the legitimacy of the election.”
What is even more concerning is that while ACE-COM PPCRV received memoranda on unrelated matters, such as issues involving Starlink and ACMS handover to the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), they were shamefully left uninformed about the absentee voting arrangements — information that is critical to fair election monitoring. It was only after their own efforts to inquire that they even became aware of these developments.
This blatant disregard for transparency is not a minor oversight — it is a serious threat to the credibility of our elections. Without full disclosure and independent oversight, the absentee voting process becomes vulnerable to manipulation, favoritism, and fraud. Every voter deserves an assurance that their ballot is protected by a system built on openness and accountability, not secrecy and exclusion.
The ACE-COM PPCRV issued a stern reminder: they reserve the right to witness and scrutinize every step of the absentee voting process. They refuse to be sidelined, silenced, or blindsided. Failure to include them not only disrespects their role but also signals a dangerous slide toward electoral opacity — a path that leads only to disenfranchisement and democratic decay.
Now, more than ever, transparency must not be an afterthought; it must be the standard. In a time when public faith in institutions is fragile, every move made by COMELEC must be visible, verifiable, and accountable. The future of our democracy depends on it.
The people of Davao — and the nation as a whole — are watching. And they will not tolerate an election process shrouded in secrecy.