SC denies petition vs Comelec on digital signatures

The Supreme Court (SC) has denied a petition fi led against the Commission on Elections (Comelec), asking the High Court to compel the poll body to implement the use of digital signatures in the 2022 general elections.

- NILLICENT BAUTISTA

In a decision promulgated in June 2023 but released only on Friday, the SC denied the petition filed by the National Press Club of the Philippines, Automated Election System Watch and Guardians Brotherhood Inc. in 2022, requesting a writ of mandamus to compel Comelec to implement the use of digital signatures.

In resolving the petition, the SC said Comelec is not required to have the election returns digitally signed by the Board of Election Inspectors because “the digital signature generated by the VCMs was suffi cient compliance with the Republic Act No. (RA) 8436, or the Automated Election System Law.”

It noted that the adoption of another method to digitally sign the election returns is subject to the sound judgment of the Comelec.