17-07-2025
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
