Poll watchdog hails Comelec ruling stopping SD card manual uploading

Comelec chairman George Garcia inspecting the counting machines for the polls. (File photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Saying it is much easier to switch SD cards which can be put in one’s pocket, a poll watchdog on Thursday welcomed the move of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to no longer allow the manual uploads of the memory card to the canvassing machines.

Kontra Daya convenor and University of the Philippines professor Danilo Arao made such remarks following Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia’s announcement on Wednesday.

Election facilitators used to transport SD cards, then bring it to a nearby canvasing area where Consolidation Canvassing System (CCS) machines are located.

But this time, Garcia said they will be required to bring the entire Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) to the canvassing centers, which Arao said is a “better arrangement.”

“If ever there are certain issues with the transmission, of course it would be preferred if the ACM will be physically brought to certain locations,” Arao told INQUIRER.net over the phone.

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Arao, however, said that it must be ensured that the physical deliveries of ACMs are “well secured.”

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“It’s better to secure something that is visually seen, like the ACMs, which is obviously relatively big than the SD card which you can put in your pocket,” Arao said.

“To be much frank about it, it is easier to switch SD cards than to switch ACMs,” he added.

When later pressed if he is alluding that it may be possible to manipulate election results by allowing the manual upload of SD cards, Arao said in a text message: “Not really. This is just in relation to your question on physically transporting ACMs that fail to transmit.”

“This is a better arrangement compared to the past practice of physically transporting SD cards which can be switched since it is small and can fit into a pocket, for example,” he noted.

He also quickly clarified that “possible manipulation can be done in various ways, including the source code whose review process is not too transparent (aside from the need to make the source code open access).”