Atty. Torreon clarified that a manual counting of votes is already permitted under the law, citing Section 31 of Republic Act No. 9369.
According to him, there is no need to file a formal petition to initiate a manual recount during elections.
“A manual counting of votes in the precinct level is supposedly expressly mandated by law, specifically Section 31 of RA 9369 or the Election Automation Law. Yet the same was wantonly disregarded by the COMELEC.
There is no harm if we apply by analogy the said law in ordering a manual recount of votes in the light of numerous complaints aired in the recently concluded elections. We are simply invoking the law,” according to Atty. Israelito Torreon, Official Spokesperson of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.
