PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, June 6, raised the possibility that the people might revolt if the Commission on Elections (Comelec) retains Smartmatic as technology provider in the next elections.
Duterte renewed his call on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to pick a new contractor to avoid a repeat of technical glitches in future elections.
Fed up with the Smartmatic's defective vote counting machines (VCMs), the President stressed that not a single vote should be "wasted."
"Ang sinabi ko naman diyan sa Smartmatic, even if there is one vote that is wasted, hindi maganda 'yan (On the issue concerning Smartmatic, even if there is one vote that is wasted, it's not good). It will foment and it will generate [hate]," he said at the Eid'l Fitr celebration in Davao City on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.
"Sabi ko, maghanap kayo nang bago na walang palpak ni isang boto. Kapag may isang Maranao, nag-sige yawyaw diyan, hindi na mag-tahimik iyan, lalo nang madaya (Look for a new technology provider that will not waste even one vote. When a Maranao complains, he will not be silenced, especially when he is cheated)," he added.
The recently concluded May 13 midterm elections were marred by a seven-hour delay in the release of partial election results because of technical difficulties.
Duterte warned that a Maranao politician might be prompted to initiate a revolt if Smartmatic is retained as the technology provider in the next elections.
"Nanalo man kami, bakit ngayon wala kami sa pwesto? O, hindi na pwede ito. Patayan na. Sige, mag-revolt ka na lang, mayor. Mag-sali kami sa revolutionary government (We won but why could we not assume the post? This would not do. Let's resort to killing then. Let's launch a revolt, mayor. We will join a revolutionary government)," he said, mimicking a Maranao accent.
Despite this, all Duterte could do was to offer a prayer as he admitted that the military would unlikely allow a revolutionary government.
"Eh paano 'yang mga generals? Hindi naman papayag. Makulong tayong lahat (How about the generals? They will not allow it. We will all be thrown in jail)," Duterte said.
"We pray to Allah, it's the same God. Me, I believe in Allah. I believe in God. So huwag lang nila akong anuhin (I hope they would not do anything against me). Basta ako, may Diyos ako (I have God) and I pray for all, especially for my nation," he added.
On May 30, DUterte advised the Comelec to stop the use of Smartmatic's VCMs for the Philippine elections and find a new contractor that is "free of fraud."
In a television interview on Thursday, June 6, 2019, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez explained that the poll body always procures services and supplies for the elections "on the strength of a public bidding."
Jimenez also said that the Comelec could not ignore procurement rules just because of the President's directive. (SunStar Philippines)