KONTRA Daya 2010, a group addressing concerns over election fraud, went to the office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila Wednesday morning.
After the weekly media briefing of Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, he was approached by lawyer Harry Roque together with Fr. Jose Dizon, Bibeth Orteza, and activist Sr. Mary John Mananzan.
The group handed a letter to Larrazabal, which they requested that it be personally signed by the commissioner.
The letter addressed to Comelec chair Jose Melo was aimed “to express our urgent and serious concern over developments in the automated elections system.”
“Given all our questions, will you be able to assure us with confidence that there will be no failure of elections?” asked Orteza.
Larrazabal replied promptly assuring that there will be no failure of elections and the counting and canvassing will be automated.
“You keep on assuring and assuring us but we are not assured because we do not see any concrete action being made,” replied Sr. Mananzan.
Larrazabal said they will take up the issue at its en banc session and will give a reply to the group by February 23, as requested by the group.
Kontra Daya 2010 stated in its letter that there will be not enough time for 1,000 voters to vote in one precinct as they observed in the mock elections.
They said that Comelec should conduct another mock polls, this time including the process of voters checking their names in the voters list of the precinct.
“Comelec must also bare its contingency plans for manual elections which are likely to take place in as much as 30 percent of the precincts,” the letter also cited.
It furthered that the commission should set a date when it will announce areas which are going manual.
The biggest fear of people right now, candidates included, is that the automated election system is vulnerable to rigging or that there may be failure of elections if all does not go well, said the group.
In a recent forum, only one presidentiable -- Richard "Dick" Gordon of Bagumbayan -- was positive about the new automated system. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)