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Thursday, February 15, 2007
Advisory body rejects partial automation of polls
MANILA -- The advisory council on automated elections thumbed down on Wednesday the partial automation of the May 14 political exercise due to lack of time.
Lorenzo Formoso, advisory council spokesman, said it is impossible for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to implement computerized elections despite the passage of the Automated Election System Law.
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While the law mandates the implementation of an automated election system in six urbanized cities and six provinces in the May elections, the advisory council believes it cannot be done.
"This is a question of prudence rather than possibility," Formoso said, adding that a hasty implementation of the poll automation law would create more problems to the election system.
Formoso also said the advisory council does not have the option to purchase outright the most suitable package or off-the-shelf technology and adapt customize election processes and procedures.
Even assuming that there would be available machines that the Comelec can manage within the remaining time, the council said there is still the question on the readiness of the voters to use the system.
"If poll automation is not properly tested, it would be vulnerable to hacking. A lot of bad things can come out if we will insist on pilot testing poll automation," Formoso said.
Comelec information director James Jimenez, for his part, said the commission would review the recommendation of its advisory council and make the appropriate decision on the matter.
Still on the elections, Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. said the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) and the National Secretariat for Social Action Justice and Peace (Nassa) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have agreed to jointly conduct a quick count in the May 14 mid-term elections.
Abalos revealed this after representatives of both groups met in his office.
He added that the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) would also be cooperating in the endeavor through election monitoring.
Nassa, the social arm of the CBCP, sought accreditation from the Comelec to do a quick count and it's still pending.
Abalos said for now, the Comelec is only mandated to accredit one organization to conduct a quick count because of the limited number of election returns.
He also said Nassa's petition is awaiting resolution while Namfrel's application has been put on hold following opposition filed by election lawyer Sixto Brillantes, who accused Namfrel of allegedly helping rig the results of the 2004 elections. (MSN/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (February 15, 2007 issue)
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