Local bet wants rules on making ACMs online, Comelec says process already in place

A poll aspirant on Wednesday called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to include a provision in its resolution barring automated counting machines (ACMs) from going online before and during the printing of election returns for Eleksyon 2025.

Lawyer Jeryll Harold Respicio, a vice mayoral bet in Reina Mercedes, Isabela, reiterated the alleged vulnerabilities of the ACMs, which he previously featured in his videos on social media. He is facing cyber crime charges filed by the poll body over these online posts.

"Comelec, simple lang ang panawagan ko sa iyo. Chairman George Garcia, maglagay ka lang dun sa Annex B ng Resolution No. 11098, sabihin mo lang dun… 'wag i-connect sa internet ang ACM bago at habang nagpi-print ng election returns," Respicio said.

(I am urging the Comelec to include in Annex B of Resolution No. 11098 a provision banning ACMs from being connected to the internet during and before the printing of the election returns.)

"Walang mawawala sa mga botante. Walang mawawala sa Comelec. Napakalaking question bakit ayaw ninyo gawin ito. Walang ibang paliwanag, alam niyo na ang sagot," he added.

(The voters and Comelec will not lose anything. It is a huge question why the Comelec refuses to do that.)

Respicio arrived in Intramuros, Manila to join an Ash Wednesday Mass at the Plaza Roma of the Clergy of Good Governance (CGG). He was invited by Fr. Roberto Reyes, one of the pioneers of the CCG.

"Nakikiisa tayo sa grupo ni Fr. Robert Reyes para sa isang tapat na eleksyon ngayong 2025," he said.

(We join the group of Fr. Robert Reyes for their call for an honest elections.)

Already in resolution

The Comelec, for its part, said Respicio's proposal is already part of its resolution.

"Nasa resolution na po namin 'yan (It is already included in our resolution)," Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia told GMA News Online.

Garcia previously said the ACMs are standalone machines that can operate without the internet. He also said Respicio might have a "misunderstanding or non-understanding" of the process of the election returns transmission.

"Mukhang ang kaniyang understanding, magta-transmit agad ang bawat makina tapos after ng transmission, at saka magpi-print ng election returns. Baliktad po. Election returns muna bago ang transmision," said Garcia.

(He might have a misunderstanding of the process. The election returns will be printed before their transmission.)

"Ibig sabihin, bago mag-transmit alam na ng lahat ang boto sa bawat presinto. Paano mo siya maha-hack? Paano mo mababago? Paano mo mapapakialamanan ang results kung ganitong alam na ng lahat… kung ano ang results?" he added.

(This means that the results in every precinct will be known before the transmission. How will these be hacked or changed when everyone would already know the results?)

Cyber crime complaint

On Friday, the Comelec, through Task Force Katotohanan, Katapatan at Katarungan (KKK) sa Halalan, filed a cyber crime complaint against Respicio at the Manila Prosecutors' Office over his claims on social media that he can manipulate the results of Eleksyon 2025.

Garcia earlier described Respicio's accusations as "dangerous" as it is "conditioning the public as of now that the elections may be manipulated."

"Hindi natin sinasabi kung corrupted o hindi pero bilang isang eksperto ng IT, kailangan i-minimize natin lahat ng opening para madaya ang elections. Wala namang mawawala sa atin kung disconnected sa internet ang voting machines sa elections, 'di ba?" asked Respicio.

(We're not saying if the machines are corrupted or not, but as an IT expert, we need to minimize all openings to cheat in the elections. We won't lose anything if we disconnect the ACMs to the internet, right?)

"Ang suggestion ko lamang i-print ang election return nang walang connection sa internet para ang lumabas na election return ay ang totoong boto ng bayan (My suggestion is to print the election returns offline so that the election return would indicate the true vote of the country)," he added.

Respicio said he has yet to receive a copy of the Comelec's complaint against him. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.