Pimentel calls for probe into online overseas voting issues
MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III called for a probe into internet voting for overseas Filipinos in the 2025 midterm elections.
In Senate Resolution 1344 filed on Friday, Pimentel claimed that Sections 23 and 28 of Republic Act 10590 or the Overseas Voting Act does not give the Comelec the authority to adopt online voting without first recommending it to Congress.
The resolution tasks the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation, which is chaired by Sen. Imee Marcos, to lead the inquiry in aid of legislation “with the end view of ensuring transparency, accountability, and compliance with existing laws.”
Pimentel also cited technical issues in the implementation of internet voting as well as the enrolment of only 80,000 out of 1.2 million registered overseas voters.
READ: Comelec starts 1st overseas online vote
Pimentel specifically said the quick response (QR) code generated by the online voting system allegedly displayed mismatched results and a “technical encrypted script rather than a clear, voter-friendly confirmation of their ballot selections.”
“[T]hese incidents have circulated widely on social media platforms and news outlets, amplifying fears of possible electoral fraud or technical failure, and highlighting the urgent need to assess whether the internet voting system sufficiently meets standards of security, transparency, voter verifiability, and electoral accountability,” the resolution read.
READ: Comelec refutes fraud claim in online voting
For its part, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said voters will not see the names of the candidates they voted for until after the election hours on May 12 “because this can be used in vote-buying.”
Comelec said it alone has the means to translate the encrypted script in the QR codes.
Comelec Resolution No. 11061 introduced the electronic or online voting system in a bid by the poll body to make voting more accessible for Filipinos abroad.
