Comelec skeptical of discrepancy allegations on 2025 election results
The Commission on Elections addressed the allegations that there were discrepancies in the 2025 midterm elections and urged the public to question where they are coming from.
In an interview with GMA News, Comelec chairman George Garcia addressed the apparent duplication of results as the votes were being tallied in the morning after the election day on May 12.
"Ang tatanungin po ng sambayanan, kanino po ba nanggagaling yung figures na yan? Sino po ba ang naglalabas?" Garcia asked.
He explained that the results from the precincts are being sent to the Comelec, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections, the majority party, the minority party, and the media.
"May kanya-kanyang server po ang tawag doon. Doon naipapadala ang result. So ibig sabihin, 'yung nakikita niyong nilalabas ng Comelec doon sa aming website, 'yan po ay mula sa presinto mismo pero unofficial po yan," Garcia said.
According to him, they have already gathered 90% of the results out of 100%. However, he clarified that they do not rank the candidates to prevent confusion that the results have been finalized.
"Ngayon, kung may lumalabas na mga ranking, hindi po kami 'yun. Maaaring 'yan ay galing sa isang entity katulad ng PPCRV. Ayan mapagkakatiwalaan 'yan. Ang NAMFREL, mapagkakatiwalaan 'yan. 'Yun po ay galing sa server na pinagkuhanan nila, na nangangahulugang dapat pare-parehas 'yung natatanggap ng lahat ng servers na ito," Garcia said.
Per Garcia, the difference comes when these entities release partial data instead of the complete one.
"Malamang po magkakaiba ang figures na 'yan ng sumatotal, pero hindi nangangahulugan na mali ang inilalabas po nila. Nagkataon lang na hindi nilabas ng isa 'yung kabuuan," he stated.
"Ngayon, kung may lumabas [na discrepancy] kaninang madaling araw, ang tanungin po natin, kanino ba nanggaling po 'yon? Kasi kung ang nakalagay lang doon is Halalan 2025, ni walang entity nakalagay, aba'y isa lang ang ibig sabihin—may nagmi-misinform o nagmamaniobra nung nilalabas na resulta para sa public perception lang," he continued.
Official canvassing began at 10:00 a.m. on May 13, Garcia said.
"Aalamin po ng National Board of Canvassers kung may pumasok na ba na certificate of proclamation mula sa iba't ibang provincial board of canvassers," he added.
The 2025 midterm polls took place on Monday, May 12. Check out PhilSTAR L!fe's coverage of this year's elections here.
