Filtered by: Topstories
A group of religious leaders, former officials, and civil society organizations filed a complaint on Thursday against Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia and other officials over their alleged interference with the software used in the 2025 Philippine elections.
The 16 complainants include lawyer Alex Lacson, San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, former Comelec Commissioner Augusto Lagman, former president of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines Franklin Ysaac, and Isabela Vice Mayor Harold Respicio.
Aside from Garcia, six Comelec commissioners and three other individuals were named as respondents in the case.
They face 110,000 counts of system interference, representing the 110,000 Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) used in the 2025 elections.
They are also accused of 55,874,700 counts of system interference, corresponding to 55,874,700 votes consolidated in Data Center 3.
The complainants allege that the respondents violated Section 4(a)(4) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
The provision states that system interference involves «the intentional alteration or reckless hindering or interference with the functioning of a computer or computer network by inputting, transmitting, deleting, damaging, altering, or suppressing computer data or programs, electronic documents, or electronic data messages without right or authority.»
The complaint, filed with the National Bureau of Investigation, claims that Comelec replaced the certified and verified software in the Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) used during the 2025 elections, changing it from version 3.4.0 to version 3.5.0.
The respondents also allegedly permitted the transmission of election results through Data Center 3, which the complainants described as an «illegal, unauthorized server.»
The complaint further states that Comelec deleted approximately 5 million votes with discrepancies in the election results without the involvement of the five transparency groups: the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, the media, the majority party, and the minority party.
In his statement, Garcia said Comelec is open to any investigation regarding the 2025 elections, noting that the agency oversaw orderly, honest, transparent, peaceful, and credible elections.
«The public trusts the NBI, and so do we at the Commission. All the issues they raised have long been addressed and repeatedly debunked,» Garcia said.
«We expect such disagreements or opposing views, as they reflect a healthy democracy,» he added.
The national and local elections were held on May 12, 2025.
