BAGUIO CITY – The Commission on Elections Cordillera (Comelec-CAR) said that the 2025 National and Local Elections in the region was successful, and generally peaceful.
Comelec-CAR Regional Director Julius Torres said that despite some issues and challenges that include isolated election-related incidents in the province of Abra, the election in the region was successfully completed after about 24 hours.
Among the issues recorded are problems in the scanner of the automated counting machines that were addressed immediately.
Torres, however, said that the transmission of election results is longer compared to the elections in 2022.
“Part ng assessment natin is parang nagkaroon tayo ng aberya sa transmission, inabot tayo ng almost 24 hours bago natin natapos ang buong region compared before, umaga pa lang after the election day, halos nakumpleto na lahat,” Torres shared in an interview.
He added that there was also a slight delay in the transmission of results in two voting precincts in Abra, particularly in Tineg and Lacub.
“Medyo natagalan sa paghihintay, may dalawang precinct na galing Tineg and Lacub, ito ‘yung mga barangay na nilalakad ng dalawang araw. But overall, natapos tayo mga at least 24 hours after nung nagpa-election tayo, nakumpleto natin ang buong region in terms of results, pati proclamation. Nai-proclaim lahat ng winning candidates except one here in Benguet,” Torres said.
Torres thanked all the stakeholders who have supported and helped in the successful conduct of the election, most importantly, the voters of the region for exercising their right to suffrage.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng botante sa region ng Cordillera na despite sa challenges ng pagpapatakbo at pag-prepare sa eleksyon ay they exercised their right to vote. Nagtiyaga silang pumila kahit na mahaba ang pila, mainit ang panahon pero nagparticipate pa rin sila.”
“ Of course, ‘yung ating mga partner agencies, malaki ang pasalamat natin sa kanila sa pangunguna ng Philippine National Police at ng Armed Forces of the Philippines na talaga namang binantayan nila ‘yung election kahit sa mga lugar na may problema tayo sa peace and order. Nakita naman natin na yung capability ng ating peace and order officers na panatilihing tahimik pa rin ang election kahit mayroon pa ring nangyaring mga violent incidents nung election. So maraming salamat po sa inyo. Overall po, maraming salamat dahil generally, very successful po ‘yung elections natin dito,” he said.
Torres assured the teaching and non-teaching personnel who served as members of the Electoral Boards that their honoraria will be given on time as they strictly follow the Election Service Reform Act.
The law mandates the payment of the EBs’ honorarium within 15 days after the election day. PIA – CAR
