Criticizing the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) inefficient performance in the recent elections, progressive groups gather to protest the election anomalies at the Freedom Park.

During the elections held on May 9, reports of discrepancies before and during the electoral process have flooded the social media platforms, including vote-buying claims and broken vote-counting machines. 

Davao Youth for Leni-Kiko (DYFLK) head Rose Quimod expressed her dismay with how the elections transpired, saying it was not fair and clean contrary to COMELEC’s statement. As a poll watcher, she revealed encountering unsystematic and ununiform processes in various precincts and denounced the contentious accelerated progression of partial results. 

“Unsa diay ilang gibuhat sa years of preparation for this election? In ana ka kapangit ang sistema ng COMELEC diria sa Pilipinas. Kana palang daan bulok na ang sistema,” Quimod told Atenews.

She emphasized that COMELEC’s decision will play a crucial role in the state of the nation in the next six years. 

“…Dili mi musugot na pagsagdan lang na in ani and nahitabo sa atua karon kay tungod ang COMELEC na nag contribute sila, isa sila sa instrumento na tungod kita mag suffer ta pila for years. Kay tungod ang candidato dili mi nagatuo na limpyo ang iyahang pagkadaog,” she added.

Kabataan Partylist fifth nominee Jayvie Cabajes also shared the same sentiment, mentioning that the recent elections were indeed disorganized and full of irregularities.

“Maraming nakuha na datos ang organisasyon na Kontra Daya at kahit sa aming hanay sa Kabataan Partylist nakakuha rin kami ng data kung saan andun and nagverify dun sa sinasabi talaga nating marumi ang eleksyon,” he said.

Quimod disagreed that the election results should be accepted and condemned the alleged victory of the Marcos-Duterte tandem, pointing out their campaign machinery that capitalizes on disinformation despite the lack of platforms that has deceived people. 

“Ako pag kabalo nako sa resulta kay gidawat na gyud nako kay mao man ingon sa tao pero at the same time, dili ko ma mutuo nga kanang basta basta lang bitaw pasagdan. Mao sa akua, bisan naga concede na ang uban namo kauban, nagatuo ko na naa gihapoy ray of hope. Nagatuo ko na kami jud gihapon ang nadaog,” she said.

Cabajes was also displeased with the results, specifying that even political analysts deem it questionable.

“Accepting the results na ang foundation ay marumi at madayang eleksyon ay hindi katanggap-tanggap. Lahat naman ng kandidato ay inaaccept ang desisyon kapag ito ay nasa ayos, at walang problema na kinakaharap,” he stated. 

Quimod urged others, particularly the youth, who share their sentiments but cannot join protests, to value knowledge and continue studying.

“Naa koy kaning hope or pag asa na unta kaning mga kabataan na nagapatarong sailang pageskwela, na prinsipyo ug intrigidad ang ilang ginapairal,” she stated.

Participants of the said rally includes members of Gabriela, Anakbayan, Anakpawis, DYFL-K, BayanMuna, ACT-Teachers, and Kabataan Partylist. Protests were also done in other parts of the country.