Marilyn Cahatol

Volunteers continue to participate in the parallel counting of election returns (ERs) under the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) in Manila on May 14, 2022. As of 10:30 am today, the total number of ERs received is at 52,066 out of 107,785 or 48.31%. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177882105322820220514-elections-ppcrv-count-GC-15.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Volunteers continue to participate in the parallel counting of election returns (ERs) under the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) in Manila on May 14, 2022. As of 10:30 am today, the total number of ERs received is at 52,066 out of 107,785 or 48.31%. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court’s dismissal of a petition to require the poll body to conduct a parallel manual count for the results of an automated election at the precinct level, just as it reiterated it has enough safety parameters for this.</p><p>The petition for certiorari, filed by religious individuals and retired generals last year, argued Republic Act No. 9369 — the Amended Automated Election System Law — mandates manual counting at the precinct level.</p><p>The petitioners said then they only sought to clarify the provision for “transparency, credibility, fairness, and accuracy” and did not want to stop the May 2025 midterm elections.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/13/wrap-alleged-issues-in-automated-halalan-2025-1638">WRAP: Alleged issues in automated Halalan 2025</a></div><p>In its decision made public on Thursday, however, the High Court said Comelec “acted within the bounds of its constitutional and statutory authority, and its decision to rely on automated counting is fully justified.”</p><p>Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in a message that he was “extremely jubilant” with the Supreme Court’s decision.</p><p>“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,” Garcia added.</p><p>In a statement, the poll body emphasized that parallel manual voting goes against the real intention of automation.</p><p>It added that the law sought to modernize the country’s elections through an Automated Election System (AES) and would fast-track vote counting and proclamation of winners.</p><p>“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,” the poll body added.</p><p>Automated elections, according to the commission, have enough safety measures, saying it passed an International Certification Entity and went through local source code review for additional security.</p><p>“Binibigyang-diin ng batas ang pangangailangan na ang mga resulta ng halalan ay mabilis, tama, at tunay na sumasalamin sa kalooban ng mamamayan,” the statement read.</p><p>“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,” it added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/14/sc-dismisses-petition-vs-comelec-s-failure-to-promulgate-manual-counting-rules-1714">SC dismisses petition vs Comelec’s failure to promulgate manual counting rules</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NlzZqHWiz3A?si=_-q6ersR1kpgDsyA" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision dismissing a petition which sought to obligate the poll body to conduct a parallel manual count for the results of an automated election in the precinct level.</p>

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision dismissing a petition which sought to obligate the poll body to conduct a parallel manual count for the results of an automated election in the precinct level.

Comelec ‘jubilant’ over SC’s junking of bid for manual precinct count despite automated polls

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Comelec ‘jubilant’ over SC’s junking of bid for manual precinct count despite automated polls

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 15, 2026 01:21 PM PHT

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Supreme Court

Comelec

automated counting machine

automated election

precinct level manual count

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