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Friday, February 20, 2004
Tech experts ask Comelec to focus on manual count
By Marie Neri
MANILA -- Concentrate on the manual system of counting in the May elections and stop pushing for the use of the automated counting machines (ACMs).
This was the call made by the Information Technology Foundation of the Philippines (ITFP) following reports that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is still making an effort to use the ACMs.
Gus Lagman, an official of the ITFP, said it is now imperative for the commission to focus on putting effective measures that would prevent cheating in the May 10 elections after the commission was ordered to abort the implementation of the automated counting system.
Lagman also said Comelec must start working on recovering the funds used to acquire the 1,991 ACMs.
"They should work to recover the money. They have a big problem," Lagman added.
The Supreme Court (SC) earlier rejected the automation contract entered into by the Comelec with Mega Pacific eSolutions for being anomalous.
The Comelec and Mega Pacific asked the SC to reconsider its decision, but the High Tribunal upheld Tuesday its ruling declaring the deal as null and void.
Abalos expressed disappointment over the decision of the SC to reject their appeal.
Lagman, meanwhile, said Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. and the commissioners who approved the contract are facing a "plunder" case if they would fail to recover the P1.3 billion used in purchasing the ACMs.
"It is very clear that an anomaly has been committed," Lagman said in an interview.
He said they ITFP has already filed charges of graft and technical malversation against the Comelec for implementing the voter's validation project even if funds have not been allocated for the purpose.
(February 20, 2004 issue)
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