The Commission on Elections begins its random manual audit  (RMA) of ballots in the 2025 national and local elections at the Citadines by the Bay on May 14, 2025. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News MANILA – Groups on Wednesday raised issues regarding how the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) conducted the midterm elections, saying some of these needed clarity.  Among the issues raised by the Church Leaders Council for Natural Transformation and Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM) include the millions of “overvotes” that may have disenfranchised voters, as well as the version of the automated counting machine’s (ACM) software.  In his presentation, ANIM co-convenor Alex Lacson said there were 17.03 million overvotes in this year’s midterm elections, higher compared to the overvotes in the past elections.  Lacson also said there was a 2-hour delay in the transmission of votes and the media transparency servers only had results past 8 p.m. “We will be merely asking questions. We will avoid making any conclusions,” said Lacson at the beginning of his presentation.  “What if the election results data supplied by the Comelec to PPCRV, Namfrel, media, are already manipulated, altered?” he said of the transmission, referring to the allegations that the election returns went past data center 3 instead of being directly sent to the poll watchdogs and media servers.  But in an interview with the media, Ana Singson, PPCRV spokesperson, urged the groups and the public to allow the process of checks and balances to happen.  Singson noted that their parallel count with the election returns and the random manual audit led by the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Comelec are underway.  “Yung aming unofficial parallel count, mayroon kaming election return. Yun ang physical receipt ng bawat polling precinct… Kung mapalitan man during transmission, makikita namin kasi may paper trail, so ngayon umabot na kami ng 40,000 out of the over 90,000 na ERs ang dumating na,” said Singson.  Asked on what she thought about the forum, Singson said it was good that people are passionate and engaged with the elections.  “Let us always temper passion with reason, like what I said, there are always explanations if we actively seek for them. Look for the primary source data, don’t look for the secondary source data,” she said.  During the forum, Singson also explained the overvotes, which in this year was defined as “the number of votes which were cast aside” or uncounted votes.  “Ilan ang hindi binilang? Hindi 13, ang hindi binilang ay 12 kasi 12 lang ang maximum na votes na pwede (sa senator).  Ginamit din yun sa 2010 and 2013 noong Smart-Dominion PCOS, ngayon ang Miru, yun din ang definition nila,” she said.  “If you divide that by 12, the maximum number that can be cast aside by any voter is 12 kasi 12 ang maximum number of votes para sa senator. If you divide 17.4 million by 12, that would give you 1.4 million,” she said. Singson said the percentage of overvote this year was at 2.45 percent, if the public would follow her explanation, lower compared to 2019 when the overvote was at 2.55 percent. RECOMMENDATIONS Lawyer Ona Caritos of the Legal Network For Truthful Elections (LENTE), for her part, said the overvotes could have been a result of several factors.  “So far ang nakikita namin is a combination of a few factors: manipis na balota, mababang threshold at low quality markers. Pag nag-combine yang tatlong yan, nagkaroon tayo ng mga smudges,” Caritos told the media.  “Unfortunately because of the lower threshold, kahit kaunting smudge lang, it counted as a vote,” she said.  Caritos recommended that the Comelec hold longer mock elections, instead of the regular two hours.  “Kailangan ang thresh hold taasan kasi nakita natin ngayon lalong-lalo na sa ginagawang random manual audit, kaunting dot is counted as a vote. That will result to overvote lalong-lalo na for senatorial position,” she said.  Caritos said she welcomed the forum held by the groups, as this means they care about the elections.  She lamented, however, that some allegations presented by the groups have already been explained.  “Yung mga allegations were already explained. Pero siguro kailangan i-explain nang mas matagal na dialogue sa grupo nila kasama ang iba’t iba pang stakeholders para mas maliwanagan sila,” she said.  The LENTE official said the real problem was not about the machine, but rather the abuse of state resources and vote buying. Source: https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/21/groups-raise-issues-on-comelecs-conduct-of-halalan2025-poll-watchdogs-react-1825

Nagpaabot ng pasasalamat si Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy sa lahat ng PPCRV volunteers ng diyosesis na masigasig na naglingkod at nagbantay sa katatapos lamang na 2025 Midterm National and Local Elections. Ayon sa Obispo, kahanga-hanga ang kahandaang maglingkod, at pagmamahal sa bayan ng mga PPCRV volunteer na handang mag-alay ng kanilang panahon at lakas upang matiyak ang katapatan, kaayusan at kapayapaan ng halalan. Paliwanag ni Bishop Uy, mahalaga ang tungkuling ginagampanan ng mga PPCRCV volunteers upang patuloy na matiyak ang pag-iral ng demokrasya ng bansa sa pamamagitan ng pagbabantay sa kabuuang proseso ng halalan. ”DAGHANG SALAMAT, PPCRV VOLUNTEERS! Your commitment and love for honest, orderly, and peaceful elections truly shine. You came prepared, you gave your time, and until now, you’re still there — faithfully serving. We are deeply grateful for your selfless dedication to our democracy.” Bahagi ng mensahe ni Bishop Uy. Una binigyang diin ni Bishop Uy na ang halalan ay hindi lamang isang simpleng gawaing pulitikal sa halip ay isang mahalagang pagkakataon para sa bawat mamamayan upang iprayoridad ang kapakanan at kinabukasan ng bayan na isang pagkakataon rin upang isulong ng bawat mamamayan ang isang lipunan kung saan namamayani ang katarungan, kapayapaan, katotohanan at pagmamalasakitan. Batay sa tala ng COMELEC, mahigit 18,200 mga posisyon ang kinakailangan ihalal sa pambansa at pang-lokal na posisyon sa pamahalaan na kinabibilangan ng 12-senador, mga partylist representatives, congressional district representatives, governor, mayor, sangguniang bayan member at iba pa. Reyn Letran – IbañezSource: https://www.veritasph.net/ppcrv-volunteers-kinilala-at-pinasasalamatan/

Nagpapasalamat ang Parish Pastoral Council For Responsible Voting sa mga PPCRV Volunteers ngayong 2025 midterm elections. Tinawag ni PPCRV Spokesperson Ms.Ana De Villa-Singson na mga bayani ang PPCRV volunteers na naglingkod ngayong 2025 midterms elections. Bukod sa pangunahing gawaing pagtulong sa mga botante na mahanap ang kanilang polling precincts at matukoy ang voting status, ay may mga PPCRV Volunteer na nagsilbing first aid responders at tinulungan ang mga senior citizens o persons with disabilities sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng bansa. “Sa aking paningin ang- naghahanap tayo ng huwarang tao na makabayani, yun po ang mga PPCRV Volunteers because makabayani po ang binibigay niyong serbisyo na wala naman po kayong hinihintay na kapalit na recognition or reward, ginagawa niyo lamang ito dahil sa pagmamahal for God and for the country, yun po ang pagiging bayani, napakabayani po ninyong lahat at talagang tumutulong po kayo para sa clean, honest act and meaningful elections,” ayon sa panayam ng Radyo Veritas kay Singson. Tiwala din ang Opisyal ng PPCRV na nagsilbing mabuting ehemplo ang mga volunteer sa kanilang kapwa upang maisulong ang mabubuting hangarin at katangian na kinakailangang mamayani tuwing halalan. “Yan po ang pagiging isang huwarang Pilipino, yan po ang taong may puso na tumitibok para sa mga Pinoy, so from all of us here in PPCRV National- proud na proud kami na naging makabalikat sa inyo na kasama ninyo sa pagiging isang volunteer, napakamalaking salamat po at hangang-hanga kami sa inyo, hats off,” bahagi pa ng mensahe ni Singson sa Radyo Veritas. Sa Tala, umaabot sa 350-Thousand ang mga PPCRV Volunteers sa buong Pilipinas habang aabot nama sa hindi baba sa 14-libo ang mga volunteers na kaisa sa pagbibilang ng Unofficial Parallel Count ng mga Election Returns sa PPCRV Command Center sa Maynila. Jerry Maya FigarolaSource: https://www.veritasph.net/ppcrv-volunteers-bayani-ng-2025-midterm-elections/

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) cited “a difference in behavioral pattern” among voters in Eleksyon 2025, which she described as “very interesting.” “I think I’m excited ang mga tao to vote. So there is passion for this particular election. It can be decisive of so many things,” PPRCV Spokesperson Ana Singson told GMA News Online in an interview. Singson noted that voters came to precincts and lined up as early as 7 a.m., as compared to previous years wherein the peak voting hours were between 2 to 4 p.m. She added that this did not just happen in Metro Manila but all over the Philippines. “I will leave that to political analysts to talk about, but that’s our assessment of voters,” she said. Singson also said that the 2025 midterm elections is “more peaceful” compared to 2019 and 2022. “Of course po, may nawalan ng buhay and that is always very, very sad. But if you’re looking in terms of numbers of violences and incidences of violence, parang mas kaunti ho ang nangyari ngayon versus 2022 and 2019, so we’re very grateful for that.” (Of course, there have been deaths and that is always very, very sad. But if you’re looking in terms of numbers of violence and incidents of violence, it seems like there are fewer incidents now versus 2022 and 2019, so we’re very grateful for that.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News Read more:https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/946235/ppcrv-there-was-passion-among-voters-in-eleksyon-2025/story/More stories: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/ Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/gmanews/

One of the most enduring symbols of hope and civic integrity in the Philippines is not found in the halls of power, but in churches, precincts, and school grounds as polling places. It is found in the quiet presence of thousands of PPCRV volunteers, offering their time and heart to ensure that elections remain honest, peaceful, and truly for the people…”. Continue reading about the heroic PPCRV volunteers. One of the most enduring symbols of hope and civic integrity in the Philippines is not found in the halls of power, but in churches, precincts, and school grounds as polling places. It is found in the quiet presence of thousands of PPCRV volunteers, offering their time and heart to ensure that elections remain honest, peaceful, and truly for the people. They come from all walks of life: students, teachers, professionals, retirees, parish workers, and youth from different barangays. They wear no party colors, carry no banners, and expect no recognition. Yet their role is vital. In a time when public trust is fragile and political division runs deep, they stand as guardians of truth and integrity—humble but steadfast. In Davao City, the Archdiocesan Commission on Elections Monitoring–Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (ACE-PPCRV) and Ateneo Blue Vote stood out as shining examples of faith in action and democracy in practice. These groups are more than election watchdogs—they are part of a growing movement rooted in faith, moral courage, and the belief that voting is not just a civic act, but a moral one. They are the volunteers who patiently guide voters and stay up late to observe and assist, or those who whisper a quiet prayer for peaceful polls—all a gesture of love for the country. The 2025 midterm elections underscored just how important citizen watchdogs are. In a time when disinformation spreads unchecked, when polarization deepens, and when some voters remain vulnerable to vote-buying or intimidation, PPCRV volunteers served as the eyes, ears, and conscience of the electoral process. They showed up at polling places long before sunrise—many as early as 3 a.m.—and stayed late into the night, not for praise, but for a purpose. Their quiet discipline and deep sense of responsibility offered something our democracy desperately needs: trust. Their presence reminded voters that someone was watching. That collectively, people can guard their democracy. But the value of the PPCRV goes far beyond election day. In parishes and schools across the country, PPCRV nurtures the next generation of active, informed, and morally grounded citizens. Many youth volunteers speak of how their experience changed the way they see politics, not as dirty and distant, but as something deeply personal and worth defending. It becomes a form of values-based civic education, where standing for truth, transparency, and the common good becomes part of what it means to be Filipino. I write this with deep pride in the professionalism, integrity, and unwavering commitment of the volunteers behind this movement, especially those in Davao who not only championed the protection of electoral rights but also ensured timely and trustworthy information. Together, they embodied what it means to serve—not only with competence, but with conscience. Their service was a powerful reminder that civic action matters. That democracy is not something handed down from above—it is something that is built, protected, and renewed together. And so, while the noise of campaigns may fade, the quiet, faithful work of volunteers like them echoes even louder. Because PPCRV and Ateneo Blue Vote volunteers don’t just watch the vote. They are watching over the soul of the nation. Yen OledanSource: https://yenoledan.substack.com/p/every-vote-counts?r=1xmg7y&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true