The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will push through with the proposed random technical audit of secure digital (SD) cards that were used in the May 9 national and local elections.
Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said the initiative will be done in coordination with the members of the Comelec advisory council and technical evaluation committee.
“It’s not only the Comelec that will conduct this process. It will be conducted together with the DICT , DOST , and other Comelec advisory council and technical evaluation committee,” Casquejo said in a press briefing on Wednesday, May 25.
Casquejo had proposed to the Comelec en banc the random technical audit of SD cards and vote counting machines (VCMs) that encountered issues during the May 9 elections so the poll body can determine what to improve in the next automated polls.
Comelec acting spokesperson Director John Rex Laudiangco said the audit will begin after the period for the filing of protest for the proclamation of winning candidates.
Under the Comelec’s rules, the period for the filing of election protest will commence 10 days after the proclamation of the winners.
“Kailangan kasi patapusin namin ang (We need to finish the) period for the filing of protest because we have to preserve the SD cards. After po noon (After that), we will be conducting the random technical audit of SD cards as committed by the Steering Committee,” Laudiangco noted.