To the Honorable Members of the Commission on Elections:
We, the undersigned — concerned retired members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, faith-based organizations, businessmen, professionals, and civil society members — express our grave concern that our mid-term elections would not reflect the true sentiments of the Filipino electorate given your unbelievable explanation about the QR code where, based on the complaints from some OFW’s, the candidates that they voted for are different from those reflected in the QR code issued to them after the voting.
Chairman Garcia’s explained that the system was programmed to protect vote secrecy, sanctity, and integrity. The voter’s QR code shows encrypted data of candidate’s names, not the names voters voted for.
We find the explanation completely unacceptable, as it is highly questionable, doubtful, illogical, unbelievable, and therefore highly suspicious.
The best way to protect the sanctity and integrity of the votes is – – not by keeping it totally secret, but by being transparent in allowing voters to verify if their votes were reflected and counted as guaranteed under R.A. 9369. You violated this right.
In the 2016, 2019 and 2022 national elections, the voters were issued their respective electronic receipts or VVPAT that showed the list of candidates they voted for. You completely removed this feature under your present system.
R.A. 9369 expressly require the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). You also violated this legal requirement.
Interestingly, you did not disclose to the public and media that this was your plan all along for this election, until the overseas Filipino voters discovered it.
We do not want a repeat of the doubtful results of the 2022 elections which up to now you have refused to be audited. Instead of listening to a very simple demand to prohibit connection to the internet until after the election results are printed, you took it against the proponent.
We demand that COMELEC act with urgency on the following:
- To immediately suspend the online voting for overseas Filipinos, and restore the VVPAT feature that reflects the actual votes of voters, with end-to-end vote verifiability;
- If the above cannot be done, to allow manual counting at the precinct level, after the automated election procedure in the precinct has been completed, as mandated under Sec 31, RA 9369;
- To allow independent third-party audits by civil society representatives, elections watchdogs, and cyber security experts.
Please be reminded that the stability of the country will be greatly influenced by your actions.
Let not history blame you for sowing trouble to this country we love.
GIVE US AN HONEST ELECTION!
For the Filipino people.
ANIM
Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan