According to reports from Vote Report PH, an independent citizen-led initiative that monitors electoral conduct through grassroots reporting and new media tools, a range of irregularities were observed. These include errors in Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) affecting the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), transmission delays, and the red-tagging of progressive candidates.

“Such tactics not only undermine the fairness of the election but also trample the people’s right to a fair, just, and democratic election,” according to Hans Bautista, Executive Director of Inklusibo.

Inklusibo joins various election watch groups and rights groups in demanding for a manual recount of ballots to ensure that the votes of the Filipino people are accurately reflected. The call for a manual recount comes from the failure of the government to ensure that its electoral process is foolproof, neutral, and secured.

The organization demands the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to urgently investigate these incidents and issue a transparent, public report on the scope of the irregularities, and take concrete steps to assure the Filipino people that their votes are accurate, secure, and fully accounted for.

“We must remember that the people are at the core of democratic processes. Any deception against them is a significant reflection of the type of governance and leadership this administration adheres to—a fraudulent and manipulative one,” says Bautista.

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Photo courtesy of Altermidya