Palace decries Afghanistan comparison of mid-term polls

Malacañng on Thursday said the comparison made by a foreign observers' group of the recent May 14 polls to Afghanistan as 'uncalled for'.

A group of foreign observers in the Philippines for the May 14 national elections blamed the presence of military and police on the low voters' turnout.

Somsri Hananontasuk, director of 21-man Asian Network for Free Elections (Anfrel) group, said, “The situation is not so comfortable especially if you have the military everywhere and also weapons everywhere.”

Somsri, who had observed polls in 2004 and 2005 in Afghanistan, said she felt safer in that country than in the Philippines last Monday due to the possible violence.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said, "Comparisons between Mindanao and Afghanistan by a foreign observer who still has much to learn about Philippine culture, heritage and politics, are uncalled for."

"Filipinos throughout the archipelago and even overseas are free to choose who to vote for, and are able to move around with great ease knowing that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) are there to help them," Bunye said.

He added that, "While we welcome foreign observers, we also must recognize their limited exposure to national and local politics in the Philippines."