Comelec acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco. INQUIRER/LYN RILLON
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) insisted Friday on the credibility of this year’s national and local polls as protesters continued to condemn alleged irregularities.
In a press conference, Comelec acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said that the poll body can “proudly state” that no cheating happened in the conduct of the 2022 national and local elections.
“Kami mula noong umpisa pa lang ay pinakita na namin na lahat ng proceedings ay transparent just to show to the people that what we’re doing is accordance with law and rules and performing our functions within the bounds of law and rules,” Laudiangco said.
“We could proudly state wala pong dayaang naganap. The credibility of the elections is there,” he added.
Laudiangco likewise cited the manual validation being conducted by poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).
PPCRV on Thursday said it had recorded a 100 percent match rate between physical election returns (ERs) and electronically transmitted results in the 16,820 encoded ERs.
“Bilang isang mamamayan, hayaan nyo po akong magsalita na huwag langpo yung salita ni Comelec ang pakinggan ninyo lamang. Nagsasalita na po ang number 1 watchdog natin—ang PPCRV,” Laudianfco said.
“Remember, hindi na po sila base sa transmitted ERs. Napakaganda ng procedure nila. Kinuha nila yung nareceive nilang ER, printed ones at ine-encode nila at chinecheck kung tama at pareho doon sa results na pumapasok sa transparency server,” he added.
Several groups staged a demonstration near the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City to decry the alleged irregularities in the May 9 elections.
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The rally was held near the Philippine International Convention Center where the Comelec has convened as the National Board of Canvassers to canvass the votes for the senatorial and party-list polls.