LAST week, former DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr., an advocate for transparency in computerized vote-counting, posted four (4) measures that he said Comelec should adopt to ensure transparent, clean and honest May 12, 2025 election.

While it is unlikely that Comelec will do so as he recommended, there is nothing that should stop NAMFREL (National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections), the Comelec-accredited organization, to monitor and seek implementation of at least three of these recommendations at the precinct levels.

1. No Internet Connection Prior to Transmission:

ACMs must not be connected to the internet BEFORE the printing of the 9 copies of the ERs, and provide penalties for violations thereof.

2. Permission for Accredited Watchers to Take Photos of All VVPATs:

Accredited precinct poll watchers and watchdogs should be able to take photographs of the VVPATs after the precinct ERs have been transmitted, as an additional transparency measure.

3. Public Access to Transmission and the Automated Counting Machine (ACM) Audit Logs:

Ensure that data like time of ACM transmissions, IP Addresses and geographical locations of ACMs appear in the Transmission Logs of the Telcos concerned.

He said, “All these measures will not entail any additional cost for COMELEC nor would require overtime services from the teacher-members of the precinct Electoral Board.”

In the same context, there is nothing to stop public initiative to pursue the observance of the three measures.

In this regard, we call on the NAMFREL chapters in towns and cities in Pangasinan to endeavor to organize and train how these processes can be adopted and monitored.

NAMFREL must go beyond its traditional role of merely observing the election process but help put into action what can best ensure transparent, clean and honest elections, at least  in Pangasinan.

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