Latest news with #ACMs
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec begins local source code review for BARMM polls
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday kicked off the local source code review (LSCR) for the automated election system (AES) in connection with the October 13 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections. This developed days after the Comelec started the trusted build generation for the election system to include amendments aligned with the provisions of the Bangsamoro Election Code. '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 alsoa logo of the political party and pictures of the candidates or district parliamentary representative. That's why may babaguhin sa system natin (there will be changes to our system),' said Comelec Executive Director Teopisto Elnas Jr. '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.) According to the Comelec, the LSCR started on July 17 at 11 a.m. at Circuit Makati. It also urged all accredited reviewers and representatives from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), and regional parliamentary political parties to participate in the LSCR. The poll body earlier explained the source codes serve as the 'brain' that will instruct the automated counting machines (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 AES's international certification. The Poll Automation Law states 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 [that] may conduct their own review.'' —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14-07-2025
- 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
14-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Garcia: No ACMs with software version 3.4.0 were used in Eleksyon 2025
Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia on Monday refuted claims that the certified and audited software program in the automated counting machines used in the 2025 midterm elections were substituted from version 3.4.0 to version 3.5.0. This, as a group of religious, former officials, and civil society organizations earlier filed a complaint before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against him and other officials over their alleged interference with the software used in the May polls. Garcia said that only the ACMs with 'updated' software version 3.5.0 were used during the elections. Asked if there were any ACMs with software version 3.4.0 utilized, he said: 'Walang walang wala po. Talagang 3.5.0 version tayo.' (There's really none. We only used the 3.5.0 version.) '[Ang 3.4.0 version] ang unang version kasi. After ng mga pagbabago, may mga in-adjust and therefore, biglang ngayon nagkaron ng 3.5.0 version. 'Yun na 'yung na-source code review. 'Yan na rin 'yung na-trusted build, 'yan na 'yung na-deposito sa Bangko Sentral. 'Yan na po lahat ang nilagay sa ating mga makina, 'yung version natin na updated na 3.5.0,' he explained. (The 3.4.0 version was the first version. After the changes and adjustments, we had a 3.5.0 version. That's what underwent the source code review, the trusted build, and the one we deposited at the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The updated version 3.5.0 was also what we put on our machines.) Garcia said that even the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting could attest that the Comelec only used the ACMs with the 3.5.0 software version during the elections. ''Yung mismong PPCRV, naggawa ng report... Ang sabi nga nila, 'We were there.' Nandoon po sila mismo nung nagkaron ng trusted build, nakita nila mismo na 3.5.0 siya, hindi naman siya 3.4.0,' he said. (The PPCRV made a report and said that they were there during the conduct of the trusted build. They saw for themselves that it was the 3.5.0 version used, not the 3.4.0.) 'At saka ang pinaka-best evidence sa ganyan, 'yun bang pinadalang resulta mula sa presinto ng mga makina ay tumutugma doon sa lahat ng natanggap sa mga servers? 'Yung PPCRV 99.909% ang accuracy. 'Yun naman ating random manual audit, 99.9972%,' he added. (And the best evidence to prove that is whether the results sent from the precinct where the machines were matched those received by the servers. The PPCRV said it was 99.909% accurate, while our random manual audit showed 99.9972% accuracy.) In the complaint, Garcia, six Comelec commissioners, and three other people were named respondents. They face 110,000 counts of system interference, representing the 110,000 ACMs used in the 2025 elections. They were also charged with another 55,874,700 counts of system interference, representing the 55,874,700 votes they consolidated in Data Center 3. The complainants said the respondents allegedly violated Paragraph 4, Section 4 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act. This states that system interference is the 'intentional alteration or reckless hindering or interference with the functioning of a computer or computer network, by inputting, transmitting, deleting, deteriorating, altering, or suppressing computer data or program, electronic document, or electronic data message, without right or authority.' —AOL, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
GMA Network
10-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec faces complaint for ‘system interference' in 2025 polls
A group of religious, former officials, and civil society organizations on Thursday filed a complaint against Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia and other officials over their alleged interference with the software used in the 2025 Philippine elections. Among the 16 complainants were lawyer Alex Lacson, San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, former Comelec Commissioner Augusto Lagman, former Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines president Franklin Ysaac, and Isabela Vice Mayor Harold Respicio. Aside from Garcia, six Comelec commissioners and three other people were named respondents. They face 110,000 counts of system interference, representing the 110,000 ACMs used in the 2025 elections. They were also charged with another 55,874,700 counts of system interference, representing the 55,874,700 votes they consolidated in Data Center 3. The complainants said the respondents allegedly violated Paragraph 4, Section 4 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act. This states that system interference is the 'intentional alteration or reckless hindering or interference with the functioning of a computer or computer network, by inputting, transmitting, deleting, deteriorating, altering, or suppressing computer data or program, electronic document, or electronic data message, without right or authority.' The complaint filed before the National Bureau of Investigation alleged that Comelec substituted the certified and audited software program in the Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) used in the 2025 polls from version 3.4.0 to version 3.5.0. The respondents also allegedly allowed the election results to pass through Data Center 3, which the complainants noted as an 'illegal, unauthorized server.' The complaint also flagged Comelec's move to delete around 5 million votes of vote discrepancy without the participation of the five transparency groups, namely: Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections, the media, the dominant majority political party, and the dominant minority political party. In a statement, Garcia said Comelec is open to any investigation surrounding the 2025 polls, noting that the agency observed an orderly, honest, transparent, peaceful, and credible election. 'Pinagkakatiwalaan po ng sambayanan ang NBI at ganun din po kami sa Komisyon. Lahat po ng mga binabanggit nila ay matagal at paulit-ulit na po naming nasagot at pinabulaanan,' Garcia said. 'Ang mga ganitong hindi pagsang-ayon o salungat ng paninindigan ay atin pong inaasahan bilang isang larawan ng malusog na demokrasya,' he added. (The public trusts the NBI, and we at the Commission do as well. All the issues they've raised have long been addressed and repeatedly denied. We expect these kinds of disagreements or opposing views as a reflection of a healthy democracy.) The national and local elections were held on May 12, 2025.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
07-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec to retain 15% ballot threshold for Bangsamoro polls
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will retain the 15% valid threshold for ballot shading for the 2025 Bangsamoro elections. Poll chief George Erwin Garcia on Monday said the threshold will remain effective as he reiterated the first-ever parliamentary polls is a continuation of the 2025 national and elections (NLE). 'Hindi tamang baguhin ang threshold sapagkat yun ang nasimulan namin sa 2025 NLE,' Garcia said. (It is not right to change the threshold because we already implemented that.) 'Sabi sa batas ang BARMM elections ay continuation ng national and local elections so hinid kami dapat magbago ng mga ibang sinagawa namin sa 2025 NLE,' he added. (The law states the BARMM polls is a continuation of the national and local elections so we wont change other policies.) In October 2024, the poll body en banc approved a proposal to lower the valid ballot shading threshold to 15% for the 2025 May polls — the lowest threshold since the 20% set for the 2010 elections. Garcia said the preparations of the Comelec for the Bangsamoro elections are in 'full blast'. He said the Comelec en banc has already approved the ballot faces for the Bangsamoro polls. At least 7,000 automated counting machines (ACMs) will be used for the elections and instead of telecommunication units, Starlink devices will be distributed to polling precincts for vote transmission. Comelec control Meanwhile, Commissioner Aimee Ferolino said the poll body is eyeing to lift control over Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur and Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte for the 2025 Bangsamoro elections. 'We're considering the lifting of the two municipalities under the Comelec control kasi di masyadong mainit ang elections doon at kokonti lang naman ang positions at stake,' said Ferolino. 'There is a great possibility that the declaration of the areas under Comelec control will be lifted for the upcoming polls,' she said. Ferolino, chairperson of the Comelec Gun Ban and Security Concerns Committee, said the poll body is continuing its security preparations for the polls. This includes requesting more personnel from the Afrmed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). 'If we have secured the previous elections well, there is no reason we can't secure more the BARMM elections kasi mas nakatutok tayo. Mas maraming pwersa ang AFP at PNP at kasama natin ang PCG sa elections sa BARMM,' she added. Ferolino reminded the public of the start of the election period and the implementation of gun ban from August 14, 2025, to October 28, 2025. — BM, GMA Integrated News
