Comelec receives reviewed source code for overseas voting and counting system

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has received the source code for the first-ever overseas voting and counting system (OVCS) in Eleksyon 2025.

International certifying body Pro V&V turned over the source code to the poll body at the Comelec Office in Intramuros, Manila on March 10 days after the firm reviewed the election system.

According to the Comelec, the OVCS source code will still be subject to local source code review in compliance with the country’s election laws.

“If they do find something, I don't expect it to be major where it's gonna affect the election at all. I would say we are probably 80% done, maybe even 85% done, on all of the testing. It's just a matter of doing all of these last few things," Pro V&V president Jack Cobb said. 

Poll chief George Erwin Garcia earlier said the OVCS was the last component of the automated election system (AES) needed for international certification.

The Comelec already placed the source codes of the three other components of the AES at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) such as the Automated Counting Machines, Election Management System, and the Consolidated Canvassing System.

Following the OVCS review, Pro V&V will submit a report on the certification of the AES to the technical evaluation committee (TEC), composed of representatives from the Comelec and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The TEC will then conduct its verification of the AES.

“Wala nang problema 'yung mismong system. The system works, the system is functioning properly. Will this now be accepted by the different entities? Tatanggapin ba 'yan? 'Yan ngayon 'yung ite-test nila," he added.

(There's no problem with the OVCS. The system works and is functioning properly. Now, will the three other entities accept it? That's what the TEC will test.)

Meanwhile, Garcia said the Comelec was waiting for the approval of the schedule of the depositing of the OVCS source code to the BSP. He also said the poll body did not violate any law when it did not certify the AES three months before the elections, reiterating the legislation was “directory” and not “mandatory”. 

“Gusto kong sabihin kasi sinasabi nila required tayo ng batas na 3-months, eh ibig sabihin po simula noong 2010 to 2022 lumalabag na pala tayo sa batas? Because hindi tayo nakakapag-comply sa 3-months. Yung 3-months na yan is directory not mandatory,” the poll chairperson said. 

(If we're violating the law, then what about the polls from 2010-2022? Did they also commit violations? The law was directory and not mandatory.) –NB, GMA Integrated News

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