By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
The latest Philippine Public Opinion Monitor (PPOM) by polling firm WR Numero shows that many Filipinos expect the 2025 national and local elections to be free and fair, but concerns remain.
The third edition of this year’s PPOM, published Tuesday, May 6, surveyed more than 2,000 Filipinos nationwide from April 23 to 30 ahead of the upcoming polls.
Data indicated that 41 percent of respondents believe the elections will be only partially free and fair.
Another 33 percent said the elections would be completely clean and fair.
Meanwhile, 26 percent said they do not expect the polls to be clean, free, or fair at all.
PARTIALLY FREE AND FAIR
Among those who expect a partially free and fair election, 42 percent cited vote-buying as the top concern.
Another 38 percent mentioned election laws and campaigns that favor incumbents.
A total of 36 percent expressed doubts about the accuracy of vote-counting machines.
Threats to voter safety and security were raised by 29 percent of respondents.
Concerns about the impartiality of election workers at polling precincts were also cited by 29 percent.
Other issues included possible manipulation of ballots distributed to voters (24 percent), lack of meaningful candidate choices (14 percent), and interference from police, military or government agents (12 percent).
“There’s a combination of national or macro-level concerns, for example vote-buying and violence, and then some specific to their experience of the elections, including, for example, vote-counting machines,” said Cleve Arguelles, president and CEO of WR Numero.
NOT CLEAN, FREE, OR FAIR
Among those who believe the elections will not be clean, free or fair, 44 percent again pointed to vote-buying as the leading issue.
Safety and security threats followed at 37 percent, while 30 percent cited laws and campaign practices favoring incumbents.
Additional concerns included the partiality of election workers (24 percent), potential ballot manipulation (22 percent), lack of viable candidates (12 percent), and interference by the police, military, or other government agencies (11 percent).
