PDP-Laban advocates for manual tallying of votes at polling stations
Updated Article:
Get ready, folks, as the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), led by former President Rodrigo Duterte, continues to press for transparency in the May 12, 2025, elections.
PDP-Laban insists on implementing Section 31 of Republic Act No. 9369, which mandates that ballots be read aloud and individually counted at the precinct level. According to the party, this move aims to eliminate any doubts about the integrity of the automated processes and promote openness in the voting procedure.
However, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has expressed concerns over the practicality and costs associated with manual counting. Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia pointed out potential budget increases for items like election returns and increased teacher compensation for longer work hours on election day.
Despite the opposition, PDP-Laban argues that transparency outweighs the expenses. They cite the possibility of real-time verification by poll watchers and a decrease in potential fraud as the rewards of their advocacy.
In support of their mission, PDP-Laban has partnered with other political parties for the upcoming elections. The official alliance includes Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma, Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan, and the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC).
Meanwhile, as part of their voter education campaign, Comelec has been conducting nationwide workshops with Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) and Globe Telecom, as well as outreach efforts in Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities. The goal behind these activities is to familiarize the public with voting machines and discourage fraudulent practices like vote-buying.
Comelec is also pushing for a "full automation with complete transparency count" model for the 2025 elections, emphasizing that it does not advocate for hybrid elections but rather for enhanced transparency in the automated process.
- PDP-Laban, spearheaded by former President Rodrigo Duterte, is pushing for Section 31 of Republic Act No. 9369 to be implemented in the May 12, 2025, elections, which would require ballots to be manually counted at the precinct level to address concerns about automated processes and promote transparency.
- Despite concerns over practicality and costs associated with manual counting, as expressed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), PDP-Laban argues that transparency outweighs the expenses, citing potential benefits like real-time verification by poll watchers and reduced fraud.
- In response to the emphasized need for transparency, Comelec is proposing a "full automation with complete transparency count" model for the 2025 elections, aiming to encourage public trust and discourage fraudulent practices like vote-buying, while continuing its voter education campaign.
- PDP-Laban is not alone in its efforts as they have partnered with other political parties, including Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma, Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan, and the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC), for the upcoming elections.
- The issue of transparency in the electoral process remains central to the general news and policy-and-legislation debates, with crime, education, and other societal concerns secondary to the principles of fairness and honesty in the elections.
