11 Cebu localities selected for random manual audit

CEBU, Philippines — At least 11 localities in Cebu Province have been selected by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to participate in the Random Manual Audit (RMA) for the recently concluded 2025 midterm elections. The audit is aimed at verifying the accuracy of vote-counting machines (VCMs).

Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Marchel Sarno confirmed that these localities were randomly chosen for this post-election verification process, which will cover a total of 33 clustered precincts.

The areas selected include the municipalities of Badian, Argao, Toledo, Daanbantayan, Sibonga, and Consolacion; Cebu City’s 1st and 2nd Districts; and the highly urbanized cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.

Sarno emphasized that the audit will not affect the official election results, as its purpose is strictly to validate the performance of the automated system.

“Tan-awn nato how accurate. Akong klarohan nga kani atong Random Manual Audit, dili ni mo-affect sa resulta sa atong election,” he said.

He added that the RMA is designed to foster public trust in the election system, particularly in the accuracy of VCMs, which have historically recorded a 99 percent accuracy rate in past elections.

The audit process is expected to take about a week or more, depending on logistical and operational conditions in the selected areas.

As mandated under Republic Act No. 9369, also known as the Election Automation Law, Comelec must conduct an RMA in at least one precinct per congressional district after every automated election. The audit is intended to ensure that the automated election system (AES) accurately reads and counts votes as reflected in the election returns (ERs).

According to Comelec guidelines, the areas for RMA are selected through a public random draw conducted at the Comelec central office in Manila after voting closes. The selection uses a raffle system to ensure transparency and randomness.

For Cebu, the draw resulted in a mix of 11 municipalities and cities representing both urban and rural demographics, ensuring a balanced audit sample.

Each chosen precinct will undergo a manual vote count for three elective positions: senator, member of the House of Representatives, and either mayor or governor, depending on the level of election in the area. These manual results will then be compared to the corresponding ERs generated by the VCMs. Any discrepancies found will be documented and analyzed by the audit team.

The RMA is carried out by a team composed of COMELEC members, civil society representatives, and accredited election watchdogs. Team members undergo proper training on ballot handling, manual counting, and data encoding to maintain accuracy and transparency.

Sarno noted that Cebu has not encountered any major issues during RMAs since the shift to automated elections in 2010.

“Since 2010, walay ni prosper nga problem,” Sarno said, highlighting the consistent integrity of the system.

In the 2022 elections, the nationwide RMA showed a 99.95% accuracy rate between the VCM results and the manual audit, further reinforcing confidence in the automated election process.

The audit findings will be consolidated and submitted to the Comelec en banc for review and eventual public release. –/ FPL (FREEMAN)