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Thursday, December 04, 2003
Church urges Comelec to let Namfrel do quick count
THE National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has found an ally in the Catholic Church, which asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to accredit the citizens' arm to conduct a quick count.
In a letter sent to Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, head of the Episcopal Commission on Social Action Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (Nasaa-CBCP), said the "Operation Quick Count" performed by Namfrel in the elections "contributes credibility to the whole exercise."
Gutierrez said with a lot of controversies surrounding the Comelec, it is only proper that the commission accredit Namfrel to do a vote count to ensure a that the results of the 2004 elections would be satisfactory.
"Accrediting Namfrel in the soonest possible time is a confidence building measure. It will boost public confidence not only in the Comelec's objective to ensure clean and honest but also in the credibility of the election results," Gutierrez' letter read..
He also said the track record of Namfrel in conducting a quick count in previous elections showed that the watchdog is a "trusted entity."
"Diocesan Social Actions Centers (DSACs) around the country can attest that Namfrel has been instrumental in upholding the sanctity of the ballot. Moreover, the DSACs and Namfrel mobilize Filipinos from different walks of life to participate and volunteer in what is purely an act of good citizenship," Gutierrez further said.
The Comelec earlier rejected a petition for accreditation filed by Namfrel to do a quick count as Abalos claimed that it could result in confusion, particularly in next year's elections since the commission will be automating the counting system.
(December 4, 2003 issue)
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