AES used for BARMM polls certified to be secure, accurate – TEC

MANILA, Philippines — The automated election system (AES) used for the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections (BPE) is certified to be secure and accurate, according to the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) of the elections.

The Technical Evaluation Committee, composed of a representative each from the Comelec, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Information and Communications Technology, released a resolution last August 13 on the certification of the AES. The resolution was shared by the poll body to reporters on Wednesday.

READ: First BARMM elections set for Sept. 14 after four postponements

“NOW, THEREFORE, the TEC, properly convened, RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVED, that based on the certification issued for the AES for the 2025 NLE and COMELEC’s continuing compliance to said mandated documented results, among others, for the 2026 BPE, the AES identified herein for the 2026 BPE, including its hardware and software components, can operate properly, securely, and accurately,” said the resolution.

The Republic Act (RA) 9369, or the Election Automation Law, mandates the TEC to certify, through an international certification to be chosen by the Comelec, that the AES is working securely and accurately. The US-based Pro V&V that the Comelec contracted as the International Certification Entity for the parliamentary elections was the same international certifier during the 2025 midterm elections.

Under the Republic Act 12137 that rescheduled the first BPE to September 14, 2026, the AES used in the 2025 midterm elections is also the one to be used for the upcoming parliamentary elections, as well as the machines, devices, supplies, and service providers.

READ: Ballot boxes, other preparations all set for Sept. 14 BARMM polls

The TEC also shared that the Comelec complied with the required documented results, such as conducting field testing on automated counting machines (ACMs); completion of audit on the accuracy of AES software; completion of a source code review; certification that a source code is kept in escrow with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; certification that the source code reviewed is one and the same used by the equipment; and development of a continuity plan to cover risks to the AES.

The historic polls will fill the 80-seat parliament, of which 40 seats are allotted for political parties, 32 seats for district representatives, and eight for sectoral organizations.

The Comelec on Tuesday reported that it already delivered all election paraphernalia to over 100 municipalities in the region, including the ballot boxes, ACMs, batteries, and other election materials. /cb