Manila, May 8 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has denied the request of election observers from the European Union (EU) to allow them free access to voting centers on May 12.

In a news forum in Manila on Thursday, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said giving foreigners access to voting centers will not only disrupt the voting process but will also violate Philippine laws.

"I told them that it is not possible for anyone to be allowed to enter [the voting centers], which is against our laws... The Commission en banc is standing firm that we cannot allow anybody inside the polling precincts," Garcia said.

He said that under the Omnibus Election Code, only voters, electoral board members, the watchers of citizens' arm and politic...