Thursday, May 06, 2004
SC disallows Comelec electronic count on poll results (4:24 p.m.)
The Supreme Court issued Thursday a "status quo order" that effectively stops Comelec from conducting an unofficial electronic quick count on May 10 election results, a radio report said.
The order was based on the motion raised by Sixto Brilliantes, a lawyer representing the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP), questioning the Comelec's use of electronic machines even after the court had ruled against the computerized counting and canvassing of votes.
Brilliantes said the Supreme Court should forbid Comelec from using the equipment in its unofficial quick count, pointing out that these were acquired in line with the commission's computerization program that had since been nullified because of irregularities in the bid process.
However, there is still hope that the SC will lift the status quo order, said Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, who said he planned to present the technology, which will use very small aperture terminals (VSATs), to two Supreme Court justices later on Thursday to convince them.
According to Abalos, the VSAT is a system to stop "dagdag-bawas" (vote shaving). "Why do they want it stopped?" Abalos asked. (Mae Catherine Melchor) |
