ABS-CBN signs a covenant with its election partners on Jan. 12, 2025.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News MANILA (3rd UPDATE) — ABS-CBN, the Commission on Elections (Comelec), and other stakeholders from government, media, and civil society groups on Tuesday signed a covenant that promises the peaceful, clean, and orderly conduct of the midterm elections on May 12. 

Halalan 2025: Key dates, facts on Philippines' midterm elections

The ceremony was led by ABS-CBN chairman Mark Lopez, President and CEO Carlo Katigbak, COO for Broadcast Cory Vidanes and Comelec chairman George Garcia. 

"Working together, we will build on each other's strength and capabilities to help our kababayans through this crucial event... We will keep our countrymen informed and ensure that their will is enforced trough clean and honest elections," Katigbak said.

Lopez emphasized that ABS-CBN has always invested in its election coverages as the company believes that every election is a “significant and pivotal moment for our nation.”

"For ABS-CBN, halalan has always been a very important coverage. We devote time and resources, from the election preparations, to the filing of candidacies, the campaign, and all the way to the day of elections... We are united in our collective mission to keep voters informed and enlightened," he said.

HALALAN 2025 COVENANT

ABS-CBN signs a covenant with its election partners on Jan. 12, 2025.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News 

The covenant, read by ABS-CBN Head of Integrated News Francis Toral, affirms the following commitments:

“Ako ay nakikiisa sa adhikain ng ABS-CBN para sa isang mapayapa, malinis at maayos na Pambansang Halalan sa ika-12 ng Mayo 2025. Para sa ikabubuti at ikauunlad ng bayan, ako ay makikibahagi sa mga programa ng ABS-CBN na mag-uulat ng balita at impormasyon na naglalayong bantayan ang kredibilidad ng Pambansang Halalan.

Makikiisa rin ako sa mga proyekto ng ABS-CBN na tutulong sa mga botante na paghandaan ang araw ng Halalan at hihikayat sa mga Pilipino na bantayan ang kanilang boto.

Kasama rin ako sa pagtatanggol ng katotohanan at paglaban sa fake news at maling impormasyon."

Other stakeholders who signed the covenant included Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary John Ivan Uy, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Jesus Domingo; PNP Chief Rommel Marbil and representatives from the AFP, DepEd, election watchdogs PPCRV, Namfrel, Lente, and Kontra Daya; media organizations Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Philippine Press Institute (PPI), KBP, Manila Bulletin, among other partners.

San Beda University officials lauded ABS-CBN's initiative to tap election partners such as those from the academe in helping Filipinos vote wisely.

“Syempre through this partnership makakatulung yung San Beda, hindi lang sa ABS-CBN kundi sa public in general para maliwanagan ang lahat at mabigyan ng guidance ang lahat para sa darating na eleksyon,” according to Christian Bustamante, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of San Beda University.

"Ever since, pre-pandemic ABS-CBN has been a partner of San Beda in terms of election coverage… Na-establish naman yung partnership,” added Marvin Reyes, the Prefect of Student Activities of the university.

During the event, ABS-CBN News bared some of its election-related initiatives, including the launch of the Halalan 2025 microsite; the upcoming Harapan 2025 to get to know the senatorial candidates through one-on-one interviews; "Biyaheng City Hall" focused on coverage of local races; and "Campus Patrol," wherein ABS-CBN News will go around schools as part of efforts to reach the youth.

On election day on May 12, ABS-CBN will hold a special marathon coverage on A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, ANC, and YouTube.

HELPING VOTERS DECIDE

ABS-CBN signs a covenant with its election partners on Jan. 12, 2025.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News 

For Ateneo de Manila University School of Government dean Dr. Philip Arnold Tuaño, voters should exert extra effort in studying the profile and true intentions of a candidate before deciding who to vote this coming election.   

“Kailangan natin talaga pag-isipan kung sino dapat ang ating ihahalal sa darating na eleksyon. Sana nga mapagpatuloy pa ng iba't ibang mga institusyon kasama na ng ABS-CBN ang pagpapalawak pa ng impormasyon para sa lahat,” Tuaño said.

Pulse Asia Inc. research director Dr. Ana Maria Tabunda explained it is important to have credible and responsible media and research firms to help voters decide who to vote.

Dr. Julio Teehankee of PARTICIPATE explained that it is not just the government’s obligation to ensure that democracy will remain protected. 

“Ang demokrasya ay hindi lamang obligasyon ng pamahalaan, ang pagpapatibay ng demokrasya ay nasa kamay ng lahat ng sektor sa lipunan at lahat ng mamamayan,” according to Teehankee. 

”Nakikita po namin na napakahalaga nitong partnership na ‘to with ABS-CBN and other institutions para mas malawak yung aming project sa halalan,” said Asst. Prof. Elize Mendoza of UP Department of Political Science.

The business sector also emphasized that the next elections will affect the country’s economy. 

”It's very important... Having a working democracy that is defensible is really, really key to having a good and progressive business sector,” according to Apa Ongpin, executive director of Makati Business Club.

FIGHT VS DISINFORMATION

Ms. Mary Anne Francis Toral ABS-CBN News Head (center R ) with Robin Michael Garcia - WRN Founder and Chairman (center L ) for Halalan 2025 covenant partnership at the ABS-CBN Headquarters in Quezon City on January 14, 2025. They are flanked (From L ) by Cleve Kevin Robert Arguelles - WRN group president and CEO, Ms. Catherine Lopez, ABS-CBN Vice President, Finance Operations, and Chi Almario-Gonzalez. ABS-CBN Corporation Head, News Gathering Dept and Head, News Standards and Ethics. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN signed separate memorandums of agreement with Comelec, and public opinion research firm WR Numero for an extensive election coverage this year.

Garcia said the agreement with the Kapamilya network will boost its campaign against disinformation, misinformation, and fake news this election season.

According to Toral, with its common vision, the partnership will be of big help to inform the voting public.

“This is a very meaningful and important partnership for us as we share the common vision: to have honest and fair election and truthful and responsible coverage,” Toral said.

ABS-CBN also inked an agreement with WR Numero Research, which has an extensive experience in doing research and surveys since 2019. 

WR Numero chairman and founder Robin Michael Garcia told ABS-CBN News that media's role in every election is crucial to the country’s democracy.

“The ABS-CBN story has been intimately intertwined with the story of Philippine democracy. We’re very privileged and honored to be a partner for 2025, another crucial moment in Philippine democracy and elections,” Garcia explained.

Meanwhile, Cleve Arguelles, president and CEO of the research firm, added that the voice of the voting public should be heard.   

“Kagaya ng ABS-CBN, layunin ng WR Numero na tulungan ang ating mga kababayan na mas maintindihan yung proseso ng eleksyon sa ating bansa, at ang papel namin… ay siguraduhin na sa panahon ng eleksyon na ito, hindi lamang mga boses ng kandidato, hindi lamang boses ng mga makapangyarihan, kundi boses ng taumbayan din ay mananaig sa ganitong klaseng panahon,” Arguelles said. 

Teleradyo Serbisyo and Radyo 630 also signed an agreement with Comelec for its “Mandato sa Halalan” coverage.

Here's the complete list of partners:

• COMELEC - Commission on Elections

• Department of Education

• Department of Information and Communications Technology

• Department of Foreign Affairs 

• Armed Forces of the Philippines

• Philippine National Police

• PPCRV - Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting

• NAMFREL - National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections

• LENTE - Legal Network for Truthful Elections

• Kontra Daya

• KBP - Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas

• Manila Bulletin

• Google 

• YouTube

• PCIJ - Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

• PPI - Philippine Press Institute

• Pulse Asia Inc.

• WR Numero Research

• Project Participate - Political Participation for Greater Electoral Integrity

• Ateneo De Manila University School of Government

• Cavite State University

• De La Salle University Philippines

• Polytechnic University of the Philippines

• Saint Louis University

• San Beda University

• Silliman University

• STI

• University of Santo Tomas

• University of the Philippines, Department of Political Science

• Makati Business Club

• Youth Vote Philippines

For more news and features on Philippine elections, visit the ABS-CBN News' Halalan 2025 page.

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