Tovic Salvador

Comelec conducts final trusted build of automated counting machine

Article (news)

Willard Cheng

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736750328324Screenshot 2025-01-13 at 2.37.12 PM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Commission on Elections conducts the live test of the final trusted build of the Automated Counting Machine on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Screenshot from Comelec&#x27;s Facebook Live"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">The Commission on Elections conducts the live test of the final trusted build of the Automated Counting Machine on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. <em>Screenshot from Comelec&#x27;s Facebook Live</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday conducted the final trusted build of the automated counted machine (ACM) and its consolidation and canvassing system (CCS) that would be used in the 2025 midterm elections.</p><p>The procedure was done in the presence of an international certification entity, citizens&#x27; arms, observers, and the media.</p><p>It involved the compiling of the final, verified, and approved source code into executable machine-readable code that will be deployed in the election systems. </p><p>The USBs containing the code were then sealed and turned over to the Comelec for safekeeping for loading in the ACMs and CCS later.</p><p>Comelec chairman George Garcia, commissioner Ernesto Maceda, Jr., the poll body’s technical evaluation committee, a representative from <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/15/miru-systems-comelec-urged-to-be-transparent-on-joint-venture-after-stcc-exit-1821">Miru</a>, and election watchdogs Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and National Citizens&#x27; Movement For Free Elections witnessed the trusted build and the turnover by international certification entity Pro V&amp;V.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/13/singsons-name-to-remain-on-ballots-despite-withdrawal-from-race-comelec-1408">RELATED: Singson&#x27;s name to remain on ballots despite withdrawal from race: Comelec</a></div><p>The USBs will be deposited with the Bangko Sentral for safekeeping while the hash values will be posted on the Comelec website for transparency, according to the poll body.</p><p>Garcia said the envelope that confirmed there were no issues, defects, additions, or any irregularities in the CCS and ACM was been officially turned over to the Comelec.</p><p>This means, he said, that the Comelec is now ready to use the machines for its mock election on Saturday.</p><p>Next to undergo trusted build will be the online voting and counting system (OVCS).</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>GUN BAN</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Garcia meanwhile reminded law enforcers manning the checkpoints to be impartial and treat everyone equally as they implement the gun ban, which began Sunday.</p><p>He said the reported accosting of a military personnel in a checkpoint due to a gun ban violation showed the impartiality of authorities.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/12/pnp-calls-on-citizens-to-cooperate-at-comelec-checkpoints-1350">PNP calls on citizens to cooperate at Comelec checkpoints</a></div><p>He said around 80 individuals nationwide were reported to have violated the gun ban, reiterating that good faith is not an excuse for violating the ban.</p><p>&quot;Wala dapat sinisino ang mga law enforcement authority na nandyan sa checkpoint. Dapat pantay pantay ang tingin, pantay pantay ang treatment,&quot; Garcia said.</p><p>&quot;Hindi porke opisyal ng pamahalaan o unipormadong miyembro ng armed forces, PNP dapat lahat sila ay covered ng ating gun ban at dapat pare-parehas din ang pag inspect ng kanilang sasakyan,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-y8dUkOpjeg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>The Comelec conducted the final trusted build of the automated counting machine and its consolidation and canvassing system in the presence of an international certification entity, citizens' arms, observers, and the media.</p>

The Comelec conducted the final trusted build of the automated counting machine and its consolidation and canvassing system in the presence of an international certification entity, citizens' arms, observers, and the media.