ELECTION composite picture from Inquirer recordsdata
MANILA, Philippines—As thousands and thousands of Filipinos headed to the polls in the present day, Might 12, 2025, the ultimate tally of marketing campaign violations reported nationwide reveals the widespread problems with red-tagging and unlawful campaigning that marked this 12 months’s election season.
In response to knowledge from Vote Report PH, a complete of 1,750 stories of marketing campaign violations have been filed nationwide as of Might 10, 2025, the final official day of campaigning. The ultimate report recorded vital numbers of red-tagging each on-line and on the bottom, together with instances of unlawful campaigning.
Pink-tagging dominates reported on-line violations
Of the full violations, 1,348 have been reported on-line—an amazing 77.03 % of all stories. Almost all of those on-line violations (99.63 %) concerned red-tagging, a follow that labels people or teams as communists or terrorists, usually with out foundation, placing them at vital danger.
Different on-line violations have been sparse, but equally regarding, with black propaganda or disinformation (0.22 %), copyright infringement (0.07 %), and use of public sources (0.07 %) making up the rest.
Pink-tagging and unlawful campaigning most evident onground
The remaining 402 stories—accounting for 22.97 % of the full—have been on-ground violations.
Much like on-line developments, red-tagging remained essentially the most reported difficulty, comprising 47.26 % of on-ground stories. This was adopted by instances of unlawful campaigning (24.88 %) and black propaganda or disinformation (10.20 %).
Different violations included election-related violence (9.70 %), vote shopping for (2.74 %), ultimate testing and sealing (FTS) anomalies (2.74 %), and unlawful use of public sources (1.00 %).
Reviews of AFP/PNP partisan actions (0.75 %), electioneering (0.50 %), and elimination of posters (0.25 %) have been additionally famous.
Requires motion and safety
Vote Report PH, alongside election watchdog Kontra Daya, raised issues over the surge in on-line red-tagging, emphasizing its risks to free speech and democratic discourse.
“We name on the Fee on Elections (Comelec) to behave swiftly towards these instances. Pink-tagging not solely violates Comelec Decision No. 11116 but additionally endangers the lives of the victims,” stated Prof. Danilo Arao, convenor of Kontra Daya.
Comelec Decision No. 11116 mandates the prohibition of any type of red-tagging, labeling, or public accusation that hyperlinks people or organizations to communist teams with out enough proof. The decision emphasizes that any act of red-tagging is taken into account a type of election offense, punishable beneath present election legal guidelines.
The decision additionally goals to guard candidates, political events, and neighborhood leaders from baseless accusations that threaten their security and electoral participation.
A name for vigilance on election day
As voters solid their ballots in the present day, advocacy teams are calling for heightened vigilance towards red-tagging and different election-related abuses. Vote Report PH urged residents to stay watchful and report any irregularities.
“Mga kababayan, tapos na ang kampanya, pero hindi pa tapos ang laban. Labanan natin ang dayaan hanggang sa mismong halalan. I-VoteReport mo na ‘yan!”
With polling ongoing and thousands and thousands of ballots being solid, citizen vigilance and real-time reporting shall be essential in upholding the integrity of the outcomes. Whether or not Comelec responds decisively to the surge in red-tagging and unlawful campaigning stays to be seen.
The right way to report election violations to Vote Report PH
Vote Report PH is encouraging the general public to remain vigilant and report any election violations. Listed here are the methods you possibly can report:
- SMS: Textual content “HELP” to register your quantity. Ship stories utilizing the format: REPORT Identify/Location and Precinct ID/Your Report. Instance: REPORT Andre/QC/Bumibili ng boto si pulitiko X. Ship your message to 0948 146 8304.
- E mail: Record down the data like time, date, location, and particulars of the report. Ship it to [email protected].
- Social media: Submit your report with particulars like time, date, location, and outline, and use the hashtags #VoteReportPH and #KontraDaya.
- Web site: Fill out the shape at votereportph.org/report.
Electoral violations that may be reported embrace Unlawful Campaigning, ACM Errors, Vote Shopping for, Pink Tagging, Black Propaganda, Disenfranchisement, BEI/EB Non-compliance with election procedures, Voter harassment, Election violence, Tampered ballots, and extra.
Drastic enhance
The surge in stories for the 2025 election season marks a big enhance in comparison with earlier years. Within the 2022 elections, Vote Report PH obtained a complete of 224 verified stories of marketing campaign violations.
Many of the complaints have been associated to vote shopping for (29 %), red-tagging (24.1 %), disinformation and pretend information (17%), with the remaining 29 % overlaying different types of violations.
The 2025 knowledge reveals a drastic escalation, with 1,750 stories already verified, indicating an almost eightfold enhance in recorded violations. This surge not solely underscores the rising challenges of election-related abuses but additionally highlights the heightened consciousness and vigilance amongst voters in documenting these incidents./tsb
Graphics by Ed Lustan/Inquirer.internet. Supply: Vote Report PH