Comelec says no budget for manual counting after 2025 midterm elections
Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia said that there is no budget for manual counting of votes in the 2025 elections.
This comes after senatorial candidates, including the detained Apollo Quiboloy, asked for a manual recount of votes. The Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader failed to crack the top 30 in the May 12 midterm polls.
Quiboloy's spokesperson and lawyer, Israelito Torreon, said on May 15 that manual counting is supposedly mandated by law, citing Republic Act No. 9369, or the Automated Election Law.
Garcia, however, argued that if there were manual counting, the poll wouldn't be "fully automated."
"Wala tayong budget sa mga pagbibilang na ganyan kung talagang yan ay pineprescribe, bakit simula po nung 2010 noong nag automated election tayo, ay wala po tayong ganyang klaseng pagbilang," he told Super Radyo DZBB on May 18.
"Kung pagbibigyan po natin sila (those asking for manual count), sino po magbibilang, saan magbibilang, magkano ang budget, saan kukunin ang budget, anong proseso or procedure ng pagbilang?"
He added that manual counting should have also taken place on May 12 evening.
"'Pag nag manual count sa isang automated election, 'di siya full automation. Dapat po eh may bilang na manual tapos may automation. Eh wala pong ganung nakalagay. Ang title ng mismong batas na yan ay Automated Election law."
Garcia went on to say that there are random manual audits that occur, but not in the entire Philippines.
Comelec proclaimed the winners of the 2025 senatorial race on May 17.
After this, Garcia said the poll body no longer has jurisdiction over the recent election results. It now goes to the Senate Electoral Tribunal.
"Doon po, kahit sino gusto magprotesta, pwedeng bilangin kahit saang parte ng Pilipinas ang balota," he said.
The new senators, who will serve their six-year term until June 2031, include Bong Go, Bam Aquino, Bato Dela Rosa, Erwin Tulfo, Kiko Pangilinan, Rodante Marcoleta, Ping Lacson, Tito Sotto, Pia Cayetano, Camille Villar, Lito Lapid, and Imee Marcos.
The proclaimed winners are no strangers to legislative work as they have previously served as senators and members of the House of Representatives. And since they've authored bills before, here's a look back at their most noteworthy laws.
