The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said that a manual recount can only be done if the automated election law is changed or a new law created.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia made the remarks following the call of defeated senatorial bet Pastor Quiboloy who is detained for human trafficking, for a manual recount.
He also said the revised election law shoud also provide a budget for such.
“We don’t have a budget for manual counting, if that’s really prescribed under the law. Since we started conducting automated elections in 2010, we don’t have this kind of counting,” he said.
Since the Comelec has already declared the 12 winning senators for the 2025 elections on Saturday, Garcia said that if a manual recount happens, the poll body will no longer have authority since the Senate Electoral Tribunal will take over.
He said that a new law is needed or the Automated Election Law has to be amended as it may already be outdated.
The 2025 election is a good opportunity for us to create new laws or amend the Automated Election Law because it’s been here for a long time. There have been many changes in technology. It may not be updated already,” Garcia added.
Short of saying that Quiboloy’s request is impossible at this time, Garcia said he would agree if there will be a change or overhaul of the law.
“However, the Comelec’s hands are tied. We cannot act without changing the law because we are only the enforcers of our existing laws,: he said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Comelec junks Quiboloy bid for manual recount”
