Election 2016 VP Tally and Cheating Allegations

By: Jerome Auza

The Vice Presidential race has become so heated and allegations of cheating are flying all over traditional media and social media. Technical buzzwords suddenly became topics of conversations which added to the confusion. The terms hash, character encoding, digital signature and many more are discussed by people who are not necessarily experts on these matters.

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The issues started when Bongbong Marcos initially led the unofficial tally but was quickly overtaken by Leni Robredo. The two candidates now have votes over 13M each but Robredo leads only by a thin margin. Marcos alleged that COMELEC modified the tally. The allegation became somewhat credible because a Smartmatic programmer made a cosmetic change on the software to properly display the enye character which initially showed up as a question mark. To make matters worse, the programmer broke protocol because he did not get an approval from the COMELEC before making the change.

Fortunately for the Filipino people, COMELEC did the right process in conducting the random manual audit (RMA). In a previous post, I expressed my worry that the RMA could be manipulated because the initial reports was that the precincts to be audited are to be selected before the elections. However, in the 2016 elections, the actual precincts for audit were selected on May 10 or after the election results were transmitted to the servers. This means any form of cheating at the vote counting machine (VCM) level can be detected.

Any modification of tally results can be verified from any of the three independent servers that the VCMs connected to and submitted the results. One server is used by the COMELEC for its unofficial and official tally. Another one is used by PPCRV and the other by NAMFREL. The independent nature of PPCRV and NAMFREL is intended to ensure that the COMELEC tally can be verified.






In other words, cheating by simply manipulating the tally simply wouldn’t work because that can be detected by looking at the NAMFREL and PPCRV tallies. Cheating by preprogramming results at the VCM level can be detected by the RMA. The combination of the RMA and the independent tallies by PPCRV and NAMFREL makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to manipulate the results.

I think it is irresponsible for people to allege that cheating has occurred simply because initially Marcos led the tally but later on Robredo took the lead. That situation was easily explained by the fact that the areas that favored Marcos where the ones that were able to send their results first. The areas that favored Robredo sent their results at a later time.

Those making the allegations must be able to show that COMELEC, NAMFREL and PPCRV tallies are significantly different. Then they should show that the precints were the alleged cheating has happened have a mismatch of data from the three servers.

We wish for certainty of the VP results by this time, but unfortunately the results are still too close to call. We probably just have to wait until all the ballots are officially tallied by COMELEC and certified by NAMFREL and PPCRV to be the same as that on their own servers.

Bohol Election 2016 Results

Unofficial Results as of : 05/10/2016 07:29:56
Presidential Candidate Total Votes
1. DUTERTE, RODY (PDPLBN) 15,061,179
2. ROXAS, MAR DAANG MATUWID (LP) 9,034,774
3. POE, GRACE (IND) 8,436,758
4. BINAY, JOJO (UNA) 5,004,736
5. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO, MIRIAM (PRP) 1,359,183
6. SEÑERES, ROY (WPPPMM) 23,385
Vice Presidential Candidate Total Votes
1. ROBREDO, LENI DAANG MATUWID (LP) 13,150,629
2. MARCOS, BONGBONG (IND) 13,062,236
3. CAYETANO, ALAN PETER (IND) 5,388,255
4. ESCUDERO, CHIZ (IND) 4,531,384
5. TRILLANES, ANTONIO IV (IND) 786,085
6. HONASAN, GRINGO (UNA) 704,411
Senatorial Candidate Total Votes
1. VILLANUEVA, JOEL TESDAMAN (LP) 17,241,383
2. DRILON, FRANK (LP) 17,240,787
3. SOTTO, VICENTE (NPC) 16,056,435
4. LACSON, PANFILO PING (IND) 15,774,947
5. GORDON, DICK (IND) 15,577,426
6. ZUBIRI, MIGZ (IND) 14,901,839
7. HONTIVEROS, RISA (AKBYN) 14,825,429
8. PANGILINAN, KIKO (LP) 14,749,512
9. PACQUIAO, MANNY (UNA) 14,718,248
10. GATCHALIAN, WIN (NPC) 14,007,956
11. RECTO, RALPH (LP) 13,205,135
12. DE LIMA, LEILA (LP) 13,095,633
13. TOLENTINO, FRANCIS (IND) 11,928,118
14. OSMEÑA, SERGIO III (IND) 11,778,943
15. ROMUALDEZ, MARTIN (LAKAS) 11,446,423
Party List Candidates Total Votes
1. 16 AKO BICOL 1,551,449
2. 36 GABRIELA 1,291,683
3. 25 1PACMAN 1,237,275
4. 31 ACT TEACHERS 1,092,129
PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR BOHOL Total Votes
1. CHATTO, EDGAR (LP) 316,917
2. IMBOY, MAY (PDPLBN) 213,792
3. GARCIA, WENCESLAO (IND) 9,607
4. BALAGOSA, KARY (IND) 2,422
5. GAUDICOS, FER (KBL) 1,236
PROVINCIAL VICE-GOVERNOR BOHOL Total Votes
1. BALITE, DIONING (PDPLBN) 266,629
2. LIM, CONCEPCION (LP) 245,592
MEMBER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BOHOL – FIRST LEGDIST Total Votes
1. RELAMPAGOS, RENE (LP) 137,227
2. CABALIT, JOAHNA (UNA) 26,470
3. ALTURAS, CHRIS PHILIPPS (PDPLBN) 9,142
MEMBER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BOHOL – SECOND LEGDIST Total Votes
1. AUMENTADO, ERICO ARIS (NPC) 129,032
2. GARCIA, GERRY (NUP) 47,725
MEMBER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BOHOL – THIRD LEGDIST Total Votes
1. YAP, ART (NPC) 114,997
2. DELOS REYES, CHE (PDPLBN) 85,982
MEMBER, SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN BOHOL – FIRST PROVDIST
1. ARCAMO, BENJIE (LP) 107,696
2. DAMALERIO, ABEL (LP) 100,697
3. MASAMAYOR, RICKY (LP) 83,654
4. SEVILLA, DONALD (PDPLBN) 57,575
5. MESINA, JOE (IND) 13,459
MEMBER, SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN BOHOL – SECOND PROVDIST Total Votes
1. ABAPO, TOMMY (NPC) 82,181
2. BONIEL, NIÑO REY (NP) 62,723
3. AVENIDO, AGAPITO (LP) 51,388
4. PURACAN, GIEHRJEM (LP) 50,026
5. TORREGOSA, JONEL (LP) 50,003
6. OUANO, TONYPET (NPC) 44,996
7. ABELLA, CRIS (IND) 9,735
MEMBER, SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN BOHOL – THIRD PROVDIST Total Votes
1. TUTOR, ALEXIE (LP) 107,267
2. BALITE, VICTOR (PDPLBN) 95,583
3. BAUTISTA, JADE (LP) 90,575
4. JALA, ELPIDIO (LP) 77,649
5. BINLOD, NATHANIEL (PDPLBN) 63,340
6. TIROL, GODOFREDA (PDPLBN) 58,325
7. BERNALES, SANCHO (LP) 44,070
8. BONGOLTO, NOEL (PDPLBN) 21,597
9. OMAC, LARRY (IND) 7,057
MAYOR BOHOL – TAGBILARAN CITY Total Votes
1. YAP, JOHN GEESNELL II (LP) 38,931
2. KARAAN, ARLENE (IND) 7,330
3. KAPIRIG, EDGAR (IND) 463
MEMBER, SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD BOHOL – TAGBILARAN CITY – LONE DIST Total Votes
1. JALA, ADAM (LP) 33,833
2. BOMPAT, JOSEPH (LP) 29,788
3. BESAS, PHILIPP (LP) 29,038
4. TORRALBA, ALBERTA (LP) 27,524
5. GLOVASA, DULCE (LP) 26,896
6. GONZAGA, AGUSTINUS (LP) 26,463
7. CACHO, JONAS (LP) 25,934
8. BORJA, ELIEZER (LP) 24,730
9. POLINAR, AGALON (IND) 22,304
10. GATAL, GREGGY (LP) 20,256
11. LAGUNAY, LUCILLE (IND) 19,085
12. PABE, JEREMIAS (LP) 17,590
13. TELMO, JUN (IND) 10,937
14. KARAAN, SHAENE (IND) 10,184
15. SACO, LEDA (IND) 9,613
16. RUIZ, PAT (IND) 6,711
17. TORRALBA, BEBOTH (IND) 6,159
18. SIASON, TOTO (IND) 4,198

Elections 2016 – Live Coverage

5:40PM. Around 2% of Election Returns have been submitted to COMELEC central server already.

Election returns have started to be uploaded from the voting precincts.

Election returns have started to be uploaded from the voting precincts.

5:00PM. Voting will start to officially close.

Hand crafted fans selling fast at Dao Elementary School

Hand crafted fans selling fast at Dao Elementary School

City Central School precincts have short lines already at about 12:00nn

City Central School precincts have short lines already at about 12:00nn

At Tagbilaran City Central Elementary School

At Tagbilaran City Central Elementary School

At Tagbilaran City Central Elementary School

At Tagbilaran City Central Elementary School

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At Tagbilaran City Central Elementary School

At Tagbilaran City Central Elementary School

Short lines at Booy Elementary school at around 11:45AM

Short lines at Booy Elementary school at around 11:45AM

Voters at Dao Elementary School have a hard time searching for their names on poorly printed lists.

Voters at Dao Elementary School have a hard time searching for their names on poorly printed lists.

Ubujan Elementary school queue efficient at 11:00AM

Ubujan Elementary school queue efficient at 11:00AM

Ubujan Elementary school queue efficient at 11:00AM

Ubujan Elementary school queue efficient at 11:00AM

Mangga Elementary school queues were slow moving at 11:00AM

Mangga Elementary school queues were slow moving at 11:00AM

Short lines at Booy Elementary school at around 11:45AM

Short lines at Booy Elementary school at around 11:45AM

Voters at Dao Elementary School brave the sun and humidity as they line up to vote.

Voters at Dao Elementary School brave the sun and humidity as they line up to vote.

03:00 PM – Many precincts in various baranggays in Tagbilaran City have completed the voting process for majority of the voters assigned to their precincts. COMELECT website now up.

12:00 NN – COMELEC Website still down.

10:30 AM – Voters at Dao Elementary School complain of poor quality of the printed list of voters. The names are hard to read, especially for those with eyesight issues.

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One voter gave up looking for his name and went home after a few attempts to search for his name.

10:00 AM – Voters patiently waiting in line. Senior Citizens, pregnant women, PWDs and other people with special needs were given priority with their own queue.

Voters line up at San Isidro Elementary school, Tagbilaran City

Voters line up at San Isidro Elementary school, Tagbilaran City

Queue of voters at San Isidro Elementary School, Tagbilaran City

Queue of voters at San Isidro Elementary School, Tagbilaran City

9:00AM – Lines have become longer as more voters arrive in droves.

Long lines at Dampas Elementary School

Long lines at Dampas Elementary School

Long lines at Dampas Elementary School.

Long lines at Dampas Elementary School.

Bohol News Daily Elections 2016 Live Coverage

8:00AM – Long lines and slow voting process observed in various poll precincts. So far no reports reached Bohol News Daily on errors or issues with vote results on the receipts.

7:00AM – Voters at Dampas District precincts report that the line is already long

6:00AM – Voting precincts open and started accepting voters.
– COMELEC website bogs down. It currently shows blank page.

Go out and vote!

By: Jerome Auza

In all the elections since I was old enough to understand politics, I have never seen so much divisiveness among the Filipinos during an election. I saw arguements with lawyers, priests, professionals of various backgrounds for and against certain candidates. Social media has made all the bickering even more intense.

One thing for sure, there is already a change that I can observe. For the first time, I have heard many people who say that the expected “uwan-uwan”, “inangayan” and other names we sugarcoat the act of vote buying, will not affect their choice of candidates.

I have seen on social media several posts that shame candidates who still do vote buying. At the same time, there is one national candidate who is keen on not buying votes. Indeed, I can say that the Filipino voters have matured already and have felt that they can control the destiny of our country through their sacred vote.

In Talibon Diocese, the clergy is actively campaigning against vote buying and this is something new because in the past, we only hear it in the sermons but now, you can see posters with strongly worded messages reminding the people about the sanctity of their vote. For sure there are many more parishes and dioceses throughout the country that are doing the same.

I envision a Philippines in the near future where vote buying will become a thing of the past. My hope is that the Filipino people will no longer need to accept offers of vote buying because they don’t need to accept the small amount of money because they have something to eat anyway every day.

On May 9, let us all go out and vote. Let us choose the leaders that we think can lead this country to build on the gains already achieved by the previous administrations while fixing what still needs fixing. Let us vote because we sincerely believe that they are the right candidates rather than because we received “inangayan” from these candidates.

Let us also pray for a peaceful elections and also for peaceful turn-over to the next administration. May our heated debates on Facebook be put behind after May 9. Let us all unite together as a country, no matter what our beliefs, origins, religion, affiliation or opinion.

But the work doesn’t end when the elected officials are declared. It is just the beginning. Let us all contribute to the improvement of our nation in our own small ways. Let us all work for peace and hopefully end the conflict that has been there for decades.

Lastly, let us all remain vigilant against abuses of government and do our part in order to make this country even better.

PPCRV Volunteers Perform Dry Run of Parallel Count System

PPCRV volunteers led by Fr. Felix Warli Salise performed a dry run of the parallel count system for Bohol local election results on May 7, 2016 at the CAD Laboratory at the Holy Name University in Dampas, Tagbilaran City. The parallel count system is developed and maintained by volunteer developers and trainees from Auza.Net.

There were more than 30 volunteers who showed up for the dry run and the organizers are expecting more volunteers help ensure the sanctity of the electoral process. On May 9, the volunteers are expected to start to encode the results from the printed election returns from each precinct all over the province of Bohol. They may need to work for about a week or until the last available election return is retrieved.
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The system was developed during the 2013 elections by volunteer developers and was updated to accommodate the changes required for the 2016 elections. Auza.Net technology consultant Jerome Auza hopes to be able to have access to the per precinct data from the transparency server provided by COMELEC on May 9 onward. This is in order to to have a closed loop comparison between the printed election returns and the transmitted data to COMELEC. This way, PPCRV will be able to conclude that the data transmitted are exactly the same as that on the election returns.

The PPCRV helps to prevent election fraud by making sure that the tally at the municipal, district, provincial and national levels match with what is reported by COMELEC.

However, this process cannot detect fraud if the results are pre-programmed on the vote counting machines. To detect this kind of fraud, the random manual count audit is performed. In order for the audit to be effective, the precincts to be selected for audit must be selected using a process that can be observed by PPCRV, NAMFREL and the representatives of the political parties. The selection should also be done after the election returns are transmitted to COMELEC so that there is no more opportunity to change the results.