Comelec on Quiboloy’s manual recount call: File election protest

An election protest is the only way to trigger a manual recount of Eleksyon 2025 votes, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) explained on Wednesday.

Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco made the statement as he addressed the call of detained senatorial candidate and religious leader Apollo Quiboloy for a manual recount.

“Payo na lang po namin sa mga parties na nais magkwestiyon: you file an election protest, pumasok po tayo sa proseso,” Laudiangco told reporters. 

(Our advice to parties who wish to question the results: you file an election protest so we can get into the process.)

The Comelec official said that a manual recount only happens in two instances: during random manual audit (RMA) and when an election protest is filed. 

The poll commission has already started the RMA for Eleksyon 2025 as it is mandated under Republic Act 9369 or the Election Automation Law. 

Laudiangco added that the petitioner must also provide basis why the ballots need to be opened. 

In this process, the Comelec spokesperson, who is also a lawyer, explained that the petitioner must identify pilot precincts which could support his or her claim that there are irregularities in the counting of votes. 

Should the petitioner failed to prove it in the pilot precincts, Laudiangco said this would lead to the dismissal of the election protest. 

On Tuesday night, Quiboloy’s spokesperson Israelito Torreon posted on Facebook the candidate's call for a manual recount of the senatorial votes. 

“With numerous reports of overvoting anomalies, inconsistencies in ballot readings, and other electoral irregularities, Pastor Quiboloy calls for a manual recount of the senatorial votes,” Torreon’s post read. 

“This is not a rejection of our democratic process, but a call to strengthen it. We remain committed to seeking justice, and we will pursue all legal avenues to ensure the integrity of every vote cast,” he added. 

Based on the latest partial unofficial tally reflected on the Comelec media server, Quiboloy ranked 31st out of 66 senatorial candidates, garnering at least 5.579 million votes in the May 12 elections. — BM, GMA Integrated News  

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