MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday signed a memorandum of agreement formalizing the conduct of the Random Manual Audit for the 2026 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections.
The signing was held on Aug. 28 at the Chairman's Hall of the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia signed the agreement with Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) Trustee Agnes A. Gervacio, National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) National Chairperson Angel S. Averia Jr., Philippine Statistics Authority Director 3 Clemente S. Manaog and Department of Education Assistant Secretary Roger B. Masapol.
In an ambush interview, Garcia said that the random manual audit would serve as the final check on whether the machines accurately counted votes and whether election procedures were properly implemented.
"The random manual audit is very important because it would show whether the machines counted correctly and whether the election procedures were properly implemented," Garcia said in Filipino and English.
He said the machines had already undergone tests, certification and source code review, but the audit would determine whether the machine-generated results matched the manually counted votes.
Garcia said that even if the machines had passed the required tests and received international certification, a low percentage of matching results between the manual and machine counts would raise questions about the automated election system.
He also urged political parties, candidates, sectoral organizations, civil society groups and citizens' arms to monitor election materials not only at polling precincts but throughout their movement and storage before election day.
According to the poll chief, watchers should monitor the arrival of election materials at hubs, provinces and municipalities, as well as their distribution to teachers.
He said political parties and candidates may also install closed-circuit television cameras in areas where election materials are stored, as Comelec rules do not prohibit such monitoring.
Garcia also emphasized the importance of the final testing and sealing of the vote-counting machines, which he described as the last opportunity to check whether the machines were counting correctly and whether ballots were properly accepted before voting begins.
He also highlighted the 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. voting window for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant women, saying the period could help detect pre-shaded ballots.
The poll chief said that any ballot found to have been shaded beforehand could immediately be reported to Comelec, allowing the commission to take appropriate action at the affected precinct.
