NLE: “GOOD” – ACE COM

The 36-hour manning of the National and Local Elections 2025 was in general, “GOOD,” according to the general assessment of the officers of the Archdiocesan Citizens Engagement Committee (ACE-COM), the recognized citizens arm of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in the Archdiocese of Davao.

At the closing of ACE-COM headquarters located at the 2nd floor of DACS, Davao Archdiocesan Social Action Director Rev. Fr. Leonardo Dublan, Jr., defined further his assessment saying the whole conduct of the elections showed honesty in the level of service of the Electoral Boards, the coordination and prompt response of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to the ACE-COM’s activities, issues and queries.

He added, “it was orderly and peaceful.”

“Sa karon we did better than before,” he said compared to the 2022 Presidential Elections taking into account the local no opponent political condition that has been challenged this time.

Previously, only 80% of the total voting centers and polling precincts were covered by ACE-COM volunteers but this time, Fr. Dublan revealed that the COMELEC was expecting the local citizens arm to field volunteers to the 4,616 precincts in the 182 barangays of Davao City and 604 precincts in 48 barangays of the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS).

Though he was not expecting instant transformation of volunteers who underwent values formation orientation, Fr. Dublan is contemplating on using creative and more effective means that would reach out to the Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKKs) or Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC).

He expressed his deep gratitude to all the volunteers and mostly to the parish priests and to Archbishop Romulo G. Valles, D.D. and all the partners such as the Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) and the support of the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL).

He also noted an increase of voters who participated in the May 12 elections that was affirmed by COMELEC based on a high 78% turnout of more than a million registered voters in Davao City.

As of 5:00 pm of May 13, the ACE-COM Headquarters has received 93.71% of the election returns from 266 voting centers or 1,241 polling precincts and should expect around 97-98% of ERs after retrieving those that were turned over to the Sangguniang Panglunsod and some voting centers under the ecclesial jurisdiction of the Archdiocese that are under the political jurisdiction of the neighboring province of Davao del Norte.

As the Sangguniang Panglunsod Board of Canvassers declared the winners, he noted that there were no violent reactions nor protests from any groups or political parties.

Fr. Dublan revealed that improvements in ACE-COM’s participation in the upcoming Barangay Elections in December 2025 would rely on the assessment and evaluation with their partners as a moment of learning to improve internally in ACE-COM and externally in the projects and programs that will be drawn.

He is happy though that the volunteers are already anticipating to get involved in the next elections basing on the comments received from them, “Wala kaayo koy nadungog (so far) nga DI NA KO, DINA JUD KO FATHER.”

According to Comelec Resolution No. 11132 promulgated on April 21, the Comelec scheduled the 2025 BSKE on December 1, Monday. Casting of votes will run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. where counting and canvassing of votes will immediately take place after the closing of polling precincts.