Davao City — Residents of Dumanlas, Buhangin District were caught by surprise after discovering several Starlink satellite units stored inside a private residence, allegedly intended for use in the upcoming May 12 midterm elections.
The unexpected sighting has stirred concern among citizens who questioned why such crucial election paraphernalia were not stored under the custody of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). The discovery has fueled suspicions and calls for transparency, especially with only a few weeks left before the nation goes to the polls.
According to concerned citizens, if the Starlink units are indeed to be used for the elections, they should be in secure government facilities, not in a private home. These units are reportedly part of the technology to be deployed in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) across Region 11, where internet connectivity is poor.
The Starlink satellite units are supposed to aid in the rapid and secure electronic transmission of election results once voting ends at 7 PM on election day. They are also critical in ensuring a stable signal for the printing of nine copies of the Election Returns (ERs) from clustered precincts.
COMELEC Region XI Assistant Regional Director Atty. Gay Enumebles confirmed that their office has received a report regarding the presence of these Starlink terminals in a private residence in Dumanlas. However, she clarified that their regional office is still conducting a verification process with the COMELEC central office to determine the legitimacy and purpose of the storage.
Photos circulating online show that the satellite terminals are sealed and labeled for use in Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte. The equipment also bears the logos of the COMELEC and iOne Resources, Inc., a company that, along with Ardent Networks, Inc., forms the joint venture supplying COMELEC with Secure Electronic Transmission Services (SETS) for the midterm elections.
As the verification process continues, the public is left with several unanswered questions:
- Why were the Starlink units kept in a private residence instead of a government-secured facility?
- Who authorized the storage of these election-related devices outside official COMELEC custody?
- Could this situation pose a risk to the integrity and transparency of the upcoming elections?
- What steps will COMELEC take to assure the public that the technology used in elections is free from manipulation?
The incident adds to growing concerns about electoral transparency and security, especially in an age where technology plays a critical role in delivering quick and reliable election results.