PMP renews call for more PCOS machine field tests

CEBU, Philippines - Senatorial candidate and Partido ng Masang Pilipino spokesperson Joey de Venecia yesterday said that the failure of least two Precinct Count Optical Scan machines during the start of the overseas absentee voting in Hongkong last Saturday has validated the concerns that their group has raised long before about the poll automation.

De Venecia said that the same problem is expected during the May 10 elections.

“We can also experience what they have experience in Hongkong,” de Venecia said.

According to de Venecia, the country will experience the same situation that the overseas Filipinos have encountered which has delayed the voting because of defective machines.

“Possible talagang mangyayari yong pagka antala dahil sa automated machines na gamit natin,” he said.

He pointed out that the PCOS machine’s failure to recognize the ballot could be another reason for delay. 

De Venecia renewed the PMP’s call for the testing of the PCOS machines in the precinct level for them to be able to make the necessary adjustments should there be any problem.

“The Comelec is blaming the cold and damp weather in Hong Kong for the temporary failure of its precinct scan optical scan machines. Does this mean that the extreme heat we are now experiencing here in the Philippines also affect the performance of the machines?” de Venecia asked.

“What about the cold and damp weather we usually have in Baguio, Benguet and the Cordilleras? And how about their use by varying IT technicians and election officials countrywide? Magkamali lang sila sa handling ng PCOS machines o ng mga balota, malaking gulo na ang mangyayari,” he added.

If extreme heat or extreme cold, or operator errors can affect the machines, then the PMP is asking the Comelec to explain what it plans to do in case these problems occur in large numbers during the election day.

De Venecia said that Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal’s admission that the machines failed due to moisture only worsened the public’s fears that the May 10 elections could be disastrous.

“We are not painting possible or probable scenarios here. We are citing an actual failure of the PCOS which the Comelec admits can happen anytime and anywhere,” de Venecia said.

According to Larrazabal, one of the machines was able to function after more than one hour after it had earlier jammed and rejected ballots. This, too, provided no relief in the minds of the PMP, said de Venecia.

“As we have pointed out before, previous studies have shown that there will not be enough time for all voters to cast their votes on May 10. It’s physically impossible. If any or all of the voting machines need to warm up or cool down before they can be used, and precious time is lost because of this, then even fewer voters will be able to vote,” he said.

Absentee voting by overseas Filipino workers based in Hong Kong and Singapore started last Saturday. In two precincts in Hong Kong, early voters were forced to wait for more than an hour after the machines assigned to their precincts malfunctioned. In one precinct, a replacement machine was brought in, but in the other precinct two substitute machines also failed to work.

“In effect, four of the voting machines did not work,” de Venecia pointed out.

Considering that OFWs are given between now and election day to cast their votes, they will not have a problem. This will not be the case in the country where the precincts will only be open for 11 hours.

“Faulty machines can only result in faulty elections,” the PMP spokesman said.

De Venecia expressed disappointment at the Comelec’s refusal to give status reports on poll automation.

In fact, getting any kind of data from the Comelec is next to impossible, he said. “The Comelec tells us that they are now 90 percent ready for the May 10 elections, but they refuse to answer 90 percent of our inquiries,” de Venecia said..   (FREEMAN NEWS)