CONTRARY to public speculation, the Commission on Elections in Davao Region (Comelec-Davao) has firmly denied allegations that the upcoming May 2025 midterm elections could be manipulated or rigged.
Comelec-Davao Acting Regional Director Atty. Gay Enumerables addressed the issue She responded to growing concerns over election integrity, especially amid the rise of disinformation on social media.
"We have been receiving a lot of backlash because of that... People will always say that Comelec will be cheating, but no," Enumerables said, adding that the commission has placed a "good system" that would guarantee its safeguard.
She explained that the fully automated election system is secure and cannot be hacked, contrary to some circulating rumors.
“Ansabi nila it's in the machine daw. Baka ma-hack, but we always say this, very secure ang system natin. 'Yung cheating is outside of the system, outside of the machine,” she added.
Enumerables emphasized the need to combat disinformation and misinformation online, which she described as a critical challenge heading into the elections. She also flagged other serious election issues, including vote-buying and the abuse of state resources (ASR).
Under Comelec Resolution No. 11104, ASR is defined as the misuse of government-owned resources — including funds, facilities, vehicles, and personnel — for partisan advantage. This includes campaign-related activities that improperly utilize public funds or infrastructure.
“Ginagamit na ang state resources for campaigning kaya mahirap on our part,” Enumerables said.
Doubts over the election’s credibility were further fueled by a recent incident involving the questionable storage and transport of election materials in Davao City.
On April 4, two wing vans carrying election-related equipment were seen unloading materials at a private residence in Dumanlas, Buhangin. The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) immediately launched an investigation. The materials were later transported to Tagum City on April 6, before being returned to the DCPO headquarters in Davao on April 7.
According to Comelec, the equipment included 37 Starlink Satellite Kits and solar panels provided by iOne Resources Joint Venture (iOne JV), in partnership with Ardent Networks Inc., as part of a planned deployment beginning April 7.
A memorandum from Comelec clarified that the materials were intended for internet connectivity during the transmission of election results — not for ballot reading or vote counting. The deployment began in Davao del Norte and was coordinated with the DCPO for storage and logistical support.
Comelec spokesperson Atty. John Rex C. Laudiangco assured the public that the equipment would not interfere with the Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) or the overall Election Management System.
“These devices contain no election program or software that could affect the ACMs or the Consolidation and Canvassing System,” Laudiangco explained.
Following the controversy, Comelec directed iOne JV’s Field Operations Group to transfer the equipment to designated storage facilities under strict supervision from Comelec personnel and the Philippine National Police (PNP). The commission reiterated its commitment to transparency to preserve public trust.
In a statement released on April 28, PDP-Laban urged Comelec to implement Section 31 of Republic Act No. 9369, which amends the Election Automation Law. The provision mandates that each ballot be read aloud and counted manually at the precinct before electronic transmission.
The party also cited Comelec Resolution No. 11098, which requires ACMs to remain offline until election returns (ERs) are printed and verified. PDP-Laban called on the commission to issue a clarificatory resolution explicitly prohibiting internet connectivity during voting hours.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia responded to the concerns, reaffirming that ACMs are never connected to the internet while printing ERs, maintaining the security and credibility of the voting process. RGL
