MANILA, Philippines – In tallying votes for senator in 2013, ballot-counting machines registered 100% accuracy only in one region: the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), a region known for widespread fraud in past elections.

Precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines worked with 100% accuracy only in ARMM, according to the random manual audit (RMA), the results of which were released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday, June 28.

This means the manual audit matched the PCOS tally, ruling out the possibility of rigged machines.

Overall, however, the PCOS registered the highest accuracy rate in Region XII, followed by the National Capital Region (NCR).

The PCOS accuracy rate in Region XII is at 99.986%, based on the averaged accuracy rates for senator, congressman, and mayor. In NCR, it is 99.976% on the average.

These factors pulled up the PCOS accuracy rate this year. It rose to 99.975% in 2013 from 99.6% in 2010, when the Philippines first held automated elections.

The law, however, requires a 99.995% accuracy rate for the PCOS. This means the 2013 rate still fails to meet this requirement.

In ARMM, despite the PCOS accuracy rate, other trends could point to cheating.

Incidentally, the region posted the lowest transmission rate last May 13. Still in ARMM, 54 precincts had 100% voter turnout on election day – which is statistically improbable, according to a Comelec critic. 

Perfect rating, too 

The PCOS registered 100% accuracy in the following regions for the following positions:

For House of Representatives members: 

• National Capital Region – 100%

• Region I – 100%

• Region IV-B – 100%

• Region VII – 100%

• Region IX – 100%

• Region XI – 100%

• Region XII – 100%

For mayors:

• NCR – 100%

• Cordillera Administrative Region – 100%

• Region I – 100%

• Region IV-B – 100%

• Region V – 100%

• Region IX – 100%

• Region XII – 100%

Chaired by Henrietta “Tita” de Villa of the watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, the RMA committee audited 234 precincts to check the accuracy of PCOS machines. These comprise 72.6% of the total number of precincts.

The RMA is required by the Automated Election Law, and is done by manually counting the votes and comparing these with the PCOS tally.

“The elections of 2013 must, at least, be categorized as successful. This is one of the portions that validate the success of the 2013 elections,” Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes Jr said. – Rappler.com