In previous Maniobra entries, we covered what happened before and after the elections. Now we return to May 12, 2025 – the day of the midterm polls.
Various election-related issues were reported early in the day. Some precincts opened without issue, while others faced delays. Voters in several areas reported long lines and malfunctioning machines, with some queues reportedly lasting five to eight hours under peak heat.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) confirmed that 311 Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) were pulled out and replaced due to breakdowns. There were also unverified claims online of power fluctuations, although electricity providers reported a stable supply nationwide.
COMELEC described these machine issues as isolated and said contingency protocols were activated. The agency maintained that the voting process remained functional overall.
By 7 p.m., attention shifted to results transmission. COMELEC reported that most election returns had reached its internal servers. However, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), which runs a parallel count, reported receiving only 34 to 39 percent of returns by 8 p.m.
Then came the drop – a sharp, unexplained decline in votes jolted newsrooms and observers. Bong Go’s tally reportedly fell from 26 million to 20 million. Bam Aquino’s count dropped from 20 million to 16 million within an hour. Screens changed. Numbers rolled back. The data shift arrived like a bandit at midnight: quiet, fast, and without warning.
PPCRV later acknowledged receiving duplicate entries from the transparency server. COMELEC, on the other hand, said this was due to a media software filtering issue and clarified that the raw data remained unaffected.
But it was enough to get the rumor mills running overtime.
Over-voting also surfaced as a concern. COMELEC said voters who selected more than the allowed number of candidates had those sections of their ballot invalidated. The commission reported 1.3 million cases of over-voting nationwide. However, its Random Manual Audit (RMA) showed no discrepancies between electronic and manual tallies.
COMELEC maintains that the system functioned as intended despite technical setbacks. Still, questions persist. A week after the polls, rumors continue to circulate. To its credit, the commission has actively addressed these, though public skepticism remains.
What is confirmed is that the National Board of Canvassers has signed the National Certificate of Canvass, officially proclaiming 12 senators and 53 party-list groups. As of May 24, results for local positions are still pending.
