Comelec welcomes US remarks on recent Philippine elections

The Commission on Elections on Wednesday showed appreciation of the United States'  observation that the recently concluded Philippine elections complied with international standards.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price told the media in Washington that from the technical standpoint they understand that the casting and counting of votes have been conducted in line with “international standards and without significant incident."

Comelec acting spokesperson Rex Laudiangco thanked the international poll observers for reporting that the totality of the electoral process, including the transmission routers, were “all tested and certified.”

“We really are thankful to that and that is the reason we engage and the law requires an international certification entity," he said at press briefing.

"I-highlight ko lang po yung binanggit ni (I just like to highlight what) Commissioner [Marlon] Casquejo kahapon (said yesterday), hindi lang po hardware, hindi lang po software (that not only the hardware and the software) but the totality of the electoral process that includes the transmission even the transmission routers were all tested and certified,” he pointed out.

“Chineck po lahat ito (These were all checked). And this is different sa local source code and that is why the international observers are really satisfied with the elections we have been conducting,” he added.

Price said that once the next president is officially proclaimed, the US will work "to strengthen the enduring alliance between the United States and the Philippines.”

Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has maintained the lead for presidential race with 31,080,744 based on the partial and unofficial count of votes through the Comelec Transparency Media Server as of 2:32 p.m. Wednesday. —LBG, GMA News