219 foreigners to observe May 14 polls

The Commission on Elections said Monday that 219 foreign observers from 12 countries and 7 organizations will monitor the May 14 elections. Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. said foreign observers can monitor the conduct of the elections but are banned from entering polling precincts. “All they can do is look and listen. They cannot enter polling precincts; they are allowed a certain distance," Abalos said. The observers will be sent by the governments of Australia, Singapore, Canada, Great Britain, Sweden, Finland, Germany, France, United States, Japan, Spain, and New Zealand. There will also be representatives from organizations such as The Asia Foundation, ACF Compact, European Commission, Friedrich Neumann, USAID Phils., National Democratic Institute, and International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES). The Comelec approved the application of observers in a resolution promulgated in January. Abalos said foreign observers make their own reports, copies of which can also be requested by the Comelec. The poll chief added that inviting representatives to observe the country’s election is crucial “so the whole world will know the kind of elections we are having here….that we really observe democracy." -GMANews.TV