The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Friday hailed a Supreme Court decision dismissing a petition that sought to mandate a parallel manual count alongside automated processing at the precinct level.
The High Court ruled that the poll body acted within its legal authority, noting that the reliance on automated systems was “fully justified.”
The petition, filed by a group of religious and retired military officials, had argued that Republic Act No. 9369 required a manual component to ensure transparency. However, the Court’s clarification effectively solidifies the status of the current system.
COMELEC Chairperson George Erwin Garcia welcomed the ruling as a definitive legal victory for electoral modernization.
“It affirmed and confirmed [the] full automation regime for our national and local elections and that a parallel manual count on election day is NEVER required by law as it will only result in long delays and provide opportunities for manipulation and fraud. A great victory indeed.”
The commission further argued that manual counting contradicts the very essence of automation, which aims to eliminate human error and expedite the proclamation of winners.
To illustrate this efficiency, the poll body cited the rapid results of the recent May 2025 midterm polls.
“Nasaksihan [ito] ng sambayanang Pilipino noong May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections. Naiproklama sa loob lamang ng limang araw ang lahat ng senador at party-list matapos ang halalan at ang mga provincial, city at municipality officials naman ay naiproklama sa loob lamang ng isang araw.”
Defending the integrity of the technology, the commission emphasized that the system undergoes rigorous international certification and local source code reviews to reflect the true will of the voters.
“Binibigyang-diin ng batas ang pangangailangan na ang mga resulta ng halalan ay mabilis, tama, at tunay na sumasalamin sa kalooban ng mamamayan. Sa gayon, ipinapakita ng probisyon ang malinaw na legislative intent na ganap na i-automate ang mga halalan, na papalitan ang dating manu-manong sistemang madalas ay lantad sa pagkakamali at manipulasyon ng tao.”