Several netizens are circulating a quote card claiming that Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia is pushing for manual counting of the 2028 polls to prevent fraud. This is fake.
On March 16, a Facebook user posted a graphic card with Garcia’s photo. At the bottom part, it included the following statement attributed to the Comelec chair:
“GEORGE GARCIA, MANUAL COUNTING SA ELECTION SA 2028 PARA MAIWASAN ANG PANDARAYA
(George Garcia, Manual counting in the 2028 election to avoid fraud).”
At least two other netizens reposted the image. Another FB user re-shared the same statement but used a different layout and photo of Garcia.
In an advisory posted on March 17, the Office of the Comelec Spokesperson debunked both versions of the quote card and clarified that Garcia never made the statement.
The agency explained that they adhere to election laws and will continue to implement these in the next polls.
Since 2010, elections in the Philippines have been conducted using an automated system, where votes are counted and transmitted electronically, in line with Republic Act 9369. The law only mandates a random manual audit in one precinct per district, selected in each province and city, to verify if the manual and automated counts match.
The fake posts surfaced two weeks after the poll body said that preparations for the 2028 national and local elections are already underway.
Published by an FB user, the post has so far received 41,000 reactions; 12,600 comments; and 795 shares. Other copies shared by three netizens collectively garnered 62 reactions; 55 comments; and 2 shares.
