The Philippine Supreme Court has ordered Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia and former Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo to submit their comments on a motion to intervene supporting a petition filed by PDP-LABAN. The petition seeks to halt internet voting for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The officials have been given 10 days from receipt of notice to respond to the petition. The document, made public online by Attorney Israelito Torreon, one of the petitioners, outlines issues regarding the alleged lack of transparency in online voting. It also raises concerns about the vote receipt or Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail.
The petitioners emphasized that there is no existing law in the country to implement online voting and automated vote counting. However, COMELEC Chairman Garcia earlier stated that they are ready to answer or face any case regarding this matter.
