THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said they do not see any irregularities concerning the election paraphernalia stored in one of the houses in Buhangin, Davao City.
Lawyer John Rex C. Laudiangco, spokesperson for Comelec, said in a statement on April 5, 2025, that the Comelec paraphernalia consists of Starlink Satellite Transmission Devices and Solar Panels from iOne Resources Joint Venture (iOne JV) with Ardent Networks, Inc.
Laudiangco added that these items are temporarily stored in Buhangin and, by April 15, 2025, will be connected to the Voting and Canvassing Centers in the region, based on the schedule of deployment and installation for the National and Local Elections on May 12, 2025.
He said a list of all temporary hubs, including the one in Buhangin, is available.
He explained that the Field Operations and Transmission Groups of the Comelec Project Management Office consider the temporary storage of the election paraphernalia part of the deployment of the project, which involves 10 sets of Starlink devices, solar panels, and batteries.
Comelec emphasized that based on their contract agreement with iOne JV, it is the latter’s responsibility to forward the equipment, including where it would be stored. Therefore, they do not see any irregularities concerning the paraphernalia stored in a residence in Buhangin.
Laudiangco stressed that the Starlink devices and solar panels are solely for transmission purposes and are not involved in any program related to reading or counting ballots. They will only be used to transmit Election Returns and Certificates of Canvass.
“Ito ay walang Election Program o Software na makakaapekto sa paggamit ng mga Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) at Consolidation and Canvassing Systems (CCS), pati na sa kabuoan ng Election Management System (EMS),” he said.
(This has no Election Program or Software that will affect the use of Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) and Consolidation and Canvassing Systems (CCS), as well as the overall Election Management System (EMS).
Comelec, thus, is urging the Field Operations Group Executive Director, Rafael B. Olaño of iOne JV, to transfer the election paraphernalia in Buhangin to the Office of the Election Officer (OEOs), under the supervision of Comelec employees and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The office is encouraging all election officers and provincial election supervisors across the country to inspect all hubs, warehouses, and storage areas of iOne JV in their jurisdictions, and to conduct audits and security protocols.
Laudiangco said that they have public transparency policies in place to allow the public to verify information concerning the upcoming election, thereby avoiding confusion and the spread of misinformation.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) previously received a tip from a barangay administrator from Rosalina 3, who was contacted by a concerned citizen, regarding the Comelec paraphernalia stored at a residence in Purok Santo Niño, Dumanlas, Buhangin.
In a report, DCPO conducted an inspection and uncovered solar panels and Wi-Fi transmission equipment. The homeowner claimed that the items were temporarily stored at the request of a relative involved in the project.
Police Captain Hazel Caballero-Tuazon, spokesperson for DCPO, said in a media interview on April 5, 2025, that the daughter-in-law of the homeowner won the bidding and that they are still looking for a proper area to store the paraphernalia; thus, it was temporarily stored at this location. RGP
