WHILE the recent withdrawal of National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) as a poll partner has no direct effect in the local scene, a Namfrel official here said it is frustrating for a citizens arm whose only aim is a transparent electoral process, to be denied access of election data.
Nestor Banuag, Namfrel coordinator for Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental, said it will now be very challenging for the group to move and monitor the elections, as it officially withdraws as a partner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Namfrel has declined the accreditation granted by the Comelec after it turned down Namfrel’s request to be given access to election data.
The election data, according to Banuag, would supposedly enable the watchdog to make public irregularities and report the performance of precincts in real-time.
“We as ordinary citizens, we want to know and be informed what happened to your vote after you voted, and we want to see from different sources, not just from one source,” Banuag said.
He said it is important to share information especially during a crucial period of time, and to ensure that no one commits election fraud.
Access to data from the Comelec would enable Namfrel to operate its Open Election Data project, a website containing election-related data such as information on candidates, election return tabulation, list of voters, transparency and media servers, among many other information.
The project would increase the transparency of the poll results and detect fraud, Banuag said.
“In the local scene however, I do not see any problem because we have a strong relationship with Comelec, but if others misinterpret this development, some might deny us, but this will not stop us from doing what we are mandated to do,” he said.
Banuag said Namfrel will still continue to closely monitor the electoral process, even without data from Comelec.
He said he still hopes there will still be agreements from both sides, before the election day comes. But otherwise, Banuag said, Namfrel will work to get other data from other sources.