THE killings of two election officers in Mindanao have thrust outfront the need to come up with more measures aimed at addressing poll violence before, during and after the 2025 political exercise.

The nation goes to the polls anew on May 12, 2025 to elect 12 senators, more than 300 members of the House of Representatives, and thousands of local government officials.

National candidates (senators and party-list groups)and local bets may start campaigning February 11 and March 28, respectively.

Local candidates are district congressmen, governors, vice governors, provincial board members, mayors, vice mayors and councilors.

Records show that local ballotings, compared to national polls, are more violent in the Philippines, which is teeming with election-crazy people.

This is understandable because many local candidates are actually close relatives, former friends, classmates and even neighbors.

Killed in Mindanao were the two acting municipal election officers in Lanao del Norte and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

In a statement, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the violence in the region “has no place in a dermocratic society.”

But it assured the Filipino people that the poll body “remains steadfast in its mission to uphold free, fair and peaceful elections.”

Hopefully, the candidates themselves and their leaders will wake up to their responsibility to ensure the holding of clean, honest, and credible elections in 2025.

AUTHOR PROFILE

People's Tonight