Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday called for a congressional probe into reports that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has not secured a required certification for the automated election system (AES) ahead of the May 12 elections.
“The Senate and House of Representatives must act quickly to ensure that all legal mechanisms are followed for clean and orderly automated elections. These reported issues must be clarified so that the public has no fears or doubts,” she said.
Under Section 11 of Republic Act 8436, as amended by Republic Act 9369 or the Election Automation Law, Comelec must obtain certification from an internationally recognized entity verifying that the AES, including its hardware and software, functions securely and accurately.
The law mandates that this certification be issued no later than three months before election day, which means Comelec should have obtained it by Feb. 12, 2025.
Hontiveros questioned why the certification has not yet been released and called on the oversight committee to demand an explanation from Comelec.
“If the certification has not yet been issued, they must explain to the public why it has not been released despite the clear deadline set by law,” she said.
Proceeding with the AES without the mandated certification, she warned, could severely damage public trust in the election results.
She acknowledged Comelec’s efforts to counter election-related misinformation, but cautioned against dismissing citizens who raise valid security concerns.
“When it comes to automated elections, there is no such thing as security through obscurity. We should listen to all stakeholders on how we can improve the security of our votes, even when it takes the form of criticism,” Hontiveros said.
“Criticizing the government is every citizen’s duty, especially if it helps ensure clean and fair elections,” she concluded.