Starlink devices transferred to Comelec’s Davao del Norte office
The Commission on Elections says that some Starlink satellite transmission devices, batteries, and solar panels are delivered to the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor of Davao del Norte on Sunday, April 6, 2025. —Photo from the Office of Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia
MANILA, Philippines — Transmission devices and other election-related materials were delivered to the Office Provincial Election Supervisor (OPES) in Davao del Norte on Sunday, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia told reporters in a Viber message that the deployment was witnessed by the poll body, Philippine National Police (PNP), representatives of political parties, election watchdogs Pastoral Parish Council for Responsible Voting, National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, and the local media.
A total of 53 units of Starlink transmission devices, 56 units of solar panels, and 56 units of batteries were deployed to Davao del Norte.
READ: Comelec to start distribution of ballot for May polls on April 22
“Inaasahan na sa umaga ng 7 April 2025, Lunes, ay patuloy na ihahatid ng mga trucks ng iOne JV [Joint Venture] ang natitira pang mga kagamitan sa iba’t iba pang tanggapan ng COMELEC sa iba pang bahagi ng Davao region,” the Comelec said in a statement.
(Expect the continuous delivery of iOne JV on the remaining materials to different COMELEC offices in other parts of Davao region by morning of April 7, 2025, Monday.)
READ: Comelec: No irregularity in storage of poll devices in Davao house
The poll body added that the the OPES of Zamboanga del Sur received 23 sets of Starlink allocations from iOne JV’s forward staging hub.
The Starlink satellite transmission devices and solar panels of iOne JV will be used for the transmission of results for the May 2025 elections.
The poll body maintained that the devices do not contain programs or softwares that could be used in the automated counting machines, consolidation and canvassing systems, and election management system.
The Comelec also reported that the Starlink sets of Mountain Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region were temporarily stored in the Comelec Compound in Gov. Pack Rd., Baguio City. The Office of the Regional Director noted that all Starlink set allocations for Benguet were received by all of the Office of the Election Officer of the province.
The Comelec on Saturday clarified that there is no irregularity in the temporary storage of some transmission devices and solar panels in a residential building in Barangay Buhangin, Davao City.
The poll body said that the iOne JV confirmed that the area is one of their staging hubs, where it temporarily stores election materials before the final delivery to the Offices of Election Officers (OEOs). It also ordered the removal of the transmission devices and solar panels from the area and transfer to the OEOs under the supervision of Comelec and the PNP.
