Latest news with #RepublicActNo.9369
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec holds 'trusted build' for BARMM polls
The Commission on Elections on Monday conducted a trusted build generation for the automated election system to include modifications in the poll system to be used in the 2025 Bangsamoro polls. A trusted build is a compilation of the source codes to be used and processed by the automated counting machines, consolidation canvassing system, and election management system. Comelec executive director Teopisto Elnas Jr. explained the poll body will repeat the process for the trusted build to align the AES with the provisions under the Bangsamoro Election Code. This includes the insertion of photos of candidates and logos of all political parties vying seats in the parliamentary in the ballots. 'The Bangsamoro is just a continuation of the May 12, 2025 NLE but then again, Section 14 of the Bangsamoro Election Code mandates that the ballots should include not only the names but as well as a logo of political party and pictures of the candidates or district parliamentary representative. That's why may babaguhin sa system natin,' said Elnas. 'With that, uulitin natin itong proseso mula sa trusted build, customization, field test, mock elections, certification ng TEC as well as international certification,' he added. (With that, we'll repeat the process from trusted build, customization, field test, mock elections, TEC certification and international certification.) Meanwhile, the poll body is set to start the local source code review for the AES for the Bangsamoro polls on Thursday, July 17. The Comelec previously explained that source codes serve as the 'brain' which will instruct the ACMs to execute their functions during the election day. Following its review, the notes and observations from the LSCR will be submitted to the international certifying entity for the international certification of the election system. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 9369 stipulates that 'once an AES technology is selected for implementation, the Commission shall promptly make the source code of that technology available and open to any interested party or group which may conduct their own review thereof." The Bangsamoro elections is set to be held on October 13, 2025. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
18-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec: We have no budget for manual recount of votes
Commission on Elections chairman George Garcia says the Automated Election Law's intention is to have full automated polls, not one with manual counting. File photo The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday said that the automated election law needs to be amended or a new law has to be passed to make way for the call of a manual recount of Eleksyon 2025 votes, and provide a budget for such. Comelec chairman George Garcia explained that the intention of Republic Act No. 9369 or the Automated Election Law is to have 'full' automated polls, and not one with manual counting. However, he said that the law mandates a random manual audit which would check ballots from select clustered precincts. 'Wala po kasi tayong budget para diyan sa mga pagbibilang na ganyan kung talaga bang 'yan ay pine-prescribe. Bakit? Simula nu'ng 2010 na nag-automated election tayo, ay wala po tayong mga ganyang klaseng pagbilang,' Garcia said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. (We don't have a budget for manual counting, if that's really prescribed under the law. Since we started conducting automated elections in 2010, we don't have this kind of counting.) 'Kung pagbibigyan natin sila, sino po magbibilang? Saan bibilangin? Magkano ang budget? Saan kukuhain ang budget? Anong proseso? Anong procedure ng pagbilang?' (If we grant their plea, then who will count? Where will the counting be? How much is the budget? Where will the budget be gotten from? What is the process? What is the procedure for the counting?) The Comelec earlier said that an election protest is the only way to trigger a manual recount of votes, following the call of detained senatorial candidate and religious leader Apollo Quiboloy for a manual recount. Since the Comelec already proclaimed on Saturday the 12 winning senators for the 2025 national and local elections, Garcia also said that the poll body will lose jurisdiction if there will be a manual recount as the Senate Electoral Tribunal now holds control. With this, he said that a new law is needed or the Automated Election Law has to be amended as it may already be outdated. 'Tama itong pagkakataon na ganito, itong 2025 elections, upang makapaghabi tayo ng mga batas o kaya baguhin na natin ang Automated Election Law sapagkat 2007 pa po 'yan. Napakatagal na, ang dami nang pagbabago…sa teknolohiya. Maaaring hindi na po 'yan updated,' Garcia said. (The 2025 election is a good opportunity for us to create new laws or amend the Automated Election Law because it's been here for a long time. There have been many changes in technology. It may not be updated already.) 'Ako ay nag-a-agree kung kakailanganin ng pagbabago o overhaul ng batas. Bakit nga ba hindi? Pero sa kasalukuyan, tali ang kamay ng Comelec. Hindi kami makakakilos nang hindi binabago ang batas sapagkat tagapagpatupad lang kami ng ating mga umiiral na batas,' he added. (I would agree if there will be a change or overhaul of the law. But currently, the Comelec's hands are tied. We cannot act without changing the law because we are only the enforcers of our existing laws.) Last Wednesday, May 14, the Comelec officially started the random manual audit (RMA) of ballots from over 700 randomly selected clustered precincts and one online voting post for Eleksyon 2025. At least 60 auditing teams from the Department of Education (DepEd) would check the performance of the automated counting machines (ACMs) and examine the ballots from 726 randomly-selected clustered precincts to validate their accuracy during the law-mandated RMA. The teams comprised teachers who did not serve as electoral board members for the May 12 elections. —KG, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
