Some senatorial candidates from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) are urging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate alleged irregularities in the recently concluded 2025 midterm elections.
On Saturday, PDP-Laban’s legal counsel, Atty. Israelito Torreon, arrived at the Manila Hotel around 1:30 p.m. to file a 54-page manifestation. This document, submitted just hours before the proclamation of the 12 senators-elect, calls for a comprehensive investigation and a manual recount of the election results.
“We have compiled here all the irregularities and complaints from the recently concluded elections,” Torreon was quotes as saying by ABS-CBN News. He clarified that the submission did not include a motion to suspend the proclamation to avoid speculations that the so-called “Duterte 7” is merely aiming for political positions. Instead, he emphasized that the intention is to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The manifestation outlined several key demands from PDP-Laban, including a thorough and independent investigation into the reported 17 million senatorial overvotes, which totaled 35 million. Torreon stressed that the scale of these overvotes raises serious questions about the credibility of the election results.
Additionally, the group called for a forensic audit of automated machines used, particularly in precincts where the vote tally exceeded the number of registered voters. Concerns were also raised regarding the operational failures of 50.09% of the Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) and the legal certification of ACM version 3.5.
Moreover, PDP-Laban questioned the alignment of Comelec resolutions with statutory mandates and constitutional requirements, especially regarding the implementation of online voting. The party also called for a manual recount of senatorial and party-list ballots in selected precincts.
Comelec officials advised Torreon to submit the manifestation to the commission’s headquarters in Intramuros, Manila, for further consideration.
