The Commission on Elections is pressing forward with preparations for overseas internet voting in the 2028 national elections, even as a legal challenge to the system used in this year’s polls remains unresolved before the Supreme Court.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia disclosed during a stakeholder forum in Manila on Monday that the poll body had received, last Friday, a court order requiring it to respond to a motion to intervene in the pending petition questioning the online overseas voting process. He said the Comelec has already been working with the Office of the Solicitor General to prepare its defense.
Garcia said the agency has no intention of pausing preparations while the case is pending.
“As far as we’re concerned, as of this time, tuloy na tuloy ang internet voting para sa mga kababayan natin,” he said.
He also pointed to the legal basis for the system, noting that the law itself authorizes the Comelec to explore voting modes beyond in-person participation.
“Mismong ang batas ay nag-authorize kay Comelec na pumunta sa ibang modes of voting, hindi lamang yung in-person,” Garcia said.
The chairperson added that the Comelec intends to present to the Supreme Court evidence of what he described as a successful outcome from the 2025 internet voting round, particularly what he called a perfect tally between electronically cast votes and manually counted results.
“At the same time, gusto naman namin ipresenta rin sa Korte Suprema ang naging magandang outcome noong internet voting natin lalong-lalo na yung pinagmamalaki namin na 100 percent na nag-tally yung result ng internet, at yung manually counted na results,” he said.
Earlier enrollment, broader IDs
The online voting period for the 2028 presidential elections is set to open on April 9, 2028. To boost participation among Filipinos abroad, the Comelec plans to move the enrollment window to February 9, 2028 — earlier than the March start implemented during the 2025 elections.
The poll body is also looking to expand the types of identification documents it will accept during enrollment, addressing complaints that the previous system was too restrictive.
“Ang isa sa mga naging issue, limited lang yung mga tinatanggap ng mga ID o pagkakakilanlan. Gusto namin ngayon, pagka nag-procure tayo dito sa TOR (Terms of Reference) at yung mananalo na bidder, mas malawak ang pwedeng tanggapin na ID,” Garcia said.
He said expired or renewed passports and seafarers’ books should all be acceptable, alongside IDs that simply establish a person’s Filipino identity or residence abroad.
“Kahit na yung ID na hindi pang abroad, kahit yung ID lang na nagpapakita na sila yung mga Filipinos o sila ay nag-i-stay dito, tatanggapin na dapat. Whether passport is expired (or) renewed, o yung seaman’s book… para lahat-lahat ay mapapayagan na makaboto na,” he said.
The Comelec is additionally weighing the use of instant messaging apps to deliver one-time PINs for voter verification, as an alternative to SMS or email.
Garcia also said the agency is responding to concerns that voters could photograph their completed ballots and potentially use the images for vote-buying. He announced a planned guideline prohibiting the posting of ballot screenshots, with violations to be treated as an election offense.
“Pag kasi ganun, pwedeng ma-picturan, pwedeng mai-post, o pwedeng maging paraan o dahilan para sa issue ng vote-buying… Maglalagay na lang kami ng isang provision sa ating magiging guidelines na bawal i-post yung mga makukuhanan ng picture ng mga nai-cast na boto. Kasi otherwise, ico-consider natin na election offense,” he said.
Disqualification cases and VP Sara
Asked about the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, who has signaled her intention to seek the presidency in 2028, Garcia declined to weigh in on the matter. He said only that the Comelec routinely receives petitions for disqualification or cancellation of candidacy, and that it is important for such cases to be resolved before ballots for the 2028 elections go to print.
“Ang dapat masigurado lang ni Comelec, na sana bago man lang mag-imprenta ng mga balota sa darating na eleksyon ng 2028, ay tapos na yung mga kaso ng disqualification or cancellation,” he said.
