MANILA, Philippines - The US government and the European Union joined the international community in hailing last Monday’s vote in the Philippines.
The US said the Filipino people achieved another milestone in democratic history with last Monday’s elections. Washington looks forward to a smooth transition and working with the new government.
The US embassy was the first among the diplomatic missions in Manila to issue a statement hailing last Monday’s vote that was witnessed by 120 American observers.
While there are always lessons to be learned, the US embassy said its overwhelming impression is that “the Philippines has much to be proud of today.”
“We look forward to a smooth transition and, after June 30, to working with the new Philippine government to deepen the friendship and partnership between our two nations, and to advance our common goals for the benefit of the Southeast Asia region and the world,” the embassy added.
The EU said they were impressed by the “smooth” and “generally trouble-free” elections.
EU Ambassador Alistair MacDonald said the high voter turnout and the admirable patience shown by the Filipino voters were impressive proof of their resolve to have their voice heard and their votes protected.
“I had the privilege of observing the electoral process in both Cavite and Batangas and was impressed by the manner in which this first nationwide automated election was conducted,” MacDonald said.
“Voters seemed generally comfortable with this new system, turnout was high, and the automation process seemed to work well, with relatively few technical hitches.”
MacDonald: Smooth conduct of polls everywhere
MacDonald said many of his colleagues from EU embassies also observed the elections at various locations in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao and all appreciated the smooth conduct of the voting process.
In April, the EU said it was not sending an election mission to the Philippines but only individual member states or some members of the European Parliament could come to observe the elections.
“Despite the intense heat, the long lines and the inevitable unfamiliarity of a new process, our observations suggested that this process was carried out smoothly, and the results transmitted rapidly, in the great majority of cases,” MacDonald said.
MacDonald though expressed concern over reports of electoral violence marring the country’s first automated elections.
Despite the glitches in the automated counting machines, the votes were delivered with Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party leading the pack of presidential candidates by a wide margin.
MacDonald also appreciated the efforts of the teachers to make the country’s first automated election a success.