MANILA: The Commission on Elections-Employees’ Union (Comelec-EU) on Tuesday rallied behind chairperson George Erwin Garcia amid allegations of graft linked to the poll body’s automation contract for the 2025 midterm elections.

In a statement, the Comelec-EU described the allegations as “a systematic attack on the credibility of the institution” ahead of next year’s polls.

‘We agree with Chairman Garcia that this is a well-oiled demolition job that is clearly meant to erode the public’s trust on the automated election system. As election frontliners, we cannot stand idly by as our beloved institution and our leaders are maligned with allegations and insinuations that are so blatantly unfounded and absurd,’ the union said.

It added that the allegations are a direct affront to the “credibility of the elections that we have worked so hard to uphold and preserve.’

Garcia is being dragged to million-dollar foreign accounts, allegedly from South Korean firm Miru Systems, the accredited automation service provid
er for the 2025 polls.

Garcia had vehemently denied the allegations.

Voter registrants top 4.5M

Meanwhile, Comelec reported on Tuesday that it has received over 4.5 million voters’ applications.

Based on data as of July 13, a total of 4,565,405 applications have been processed since the resumption of registration on Feb. 12.

The regions with the most number of applicants are Region 4-A (Calabarzon) with 768,899; National Capital Region with 634,881; and Region 3 (Central Luzon) with 534,782.

Cordillera Administrative Region remained at the bottom with 60,696 applicants.

The poll body projected that about three million would apply for registration until sign-up ends in September. The target was met in May.

Voter registration activities are held Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in all Offices of the Election Officer nationwide.

Source: Philippines News Agency