Thursday, May 24, 2007 Espinoza: Time to implement poll computerization law By Elias L. Espinoza Free Zone
FIGURES don’t lie.
The proclamation of winners in the race for mayor in Lapu-Lapu City was held in abeyance because the votes cast went beyond the number of registered voters.
Vice Mayor Norma Patalinghug, who ran for mayor against suspended Mayor Boy Radaza, in her pre-proclamation protest filed with the Comelec, alleged that 187,000 residents voted but the registered voters are only 148,870.
The discrepancy involving the number of people who supposedly voted and the number of registered voters in Lapu-Lapu is so glaring it cannot be taken for granted. This cannot even be considered as clerical error, like in the case of Genuine Opposition (GO) bet Koko Pimentel, whose votes were counted in favor of his rivals.
This seems like a simple case of vote padding. However, the objections that Patalinghug’s lawyers raised were systematically brushed aside during the canvass. Thus she went up to the Comelec.
In other cities and towns in Cebu, the average voters’ turnout was less than 50 percent of the registered voters. But in Lapu-Lapu, the turnout was more than overwhelming.
Comelec has already earned the tag, “does not know how to count.” The case of Patalinghug in Lapu-Lapu somehow suggests that some canvassers also do not know how to add or subtract.
But the situation in Lapu-Lapu is peanuts compared with that in Maguindanao that, reports say, did not hold election at all. Yet, Team Unity senatorial bets won.
Chavit Singson from Ilocos topped the tally. Even Singson’s party mate from Mindanao, Jamalul Kiram, was surprised why Chavit topped in a Muslim-dominated province. Only Comelec knows?
Obviously, unseen forces have again dipped their hands into the elections just to put Team Unity senatorial bets in the Top 12. GO candidates are leading in the tally of both the Comelec and Namfrel.
In the fourth congressional district of Cebu, the canvassing of the election returns from Bogo was halted several times because of accusation of fraud by the camp of congressional bet Benhur Salimbangon.
Worse, members of the board of canvassers were arrested for electoral fraud without legal or factual basis. Electoral fraud is a broad ground for action and I doubt if Salimbangon’s camp have an iota of evidence to support it.
The problem with the result of the elections in Bogo is almost similar to those in other parts of the country. As I said in my previous columns, this problem could have been avoided had Comelec implemented the poll computerization law.
A computerized setup not only saves time and scarce government resources but also the money and effort of candidates as well as the lives of their supporters.
Before the 2001 elections, Comelec already bought expensive automated counting machines but the Supreme Court voided the purchase contract. The machines and equipment worth billions of pesos are lying idle and rusting in the bodega, washing people’s taxes down the drain.
When clamor for the implementation of the computerization law for the May 14 polls again rose, Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos gave us the lame excuse that the commission does not have funds to buy the equipment.
Under this situation, Comelec can never redeem its image as an independent and credible constitutional body tasked to implement honest, free and orderly elections.
