Comelec bows to SC decision on VRIS

The Voters’ Registration and Identification System (VRIS) may have been junked by the Supreme Court (SC), but another voter identification scheme is in the works.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has unanimously decided to abide by the SC decision stopping the implementation of the VRIS component of the poll body’s modernization program, but is still working at improving voters’ identification cards.

"We have to respect the decision of the SC," Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. said in a chance interview with reporters at a Manila hotel.

Abalos met with Commissioners Luzviminda Tancangco, Rufino Javier, Mehol Sadain and Ralph Lantion at the Manila Hotel to discuss alternative plans to cleanse the country’s voters’ list after the SC ordered the Comelec not to pursue the VRIS project.

Commissioners Resurreccion Borra and Florentino Tuason Jr. did not attend the meeting for unknown reasons.

The High Tribunal junked the other day the P6.5-billion Comelec project and said the poll body cannot be compelled to formalize a contract with the winning bidder, Photokina Marketing Corp., even if the winning bidder bears a notice of award.

"It’s an end to VRIS," Abalos said.

However, Abalos said the Comelec plans to implement a similar project, the National Computerized Registration of Voters (NCRV), which will use the biometrics system — the same system proposed under the VRIS system.

The biometrics system of identification combines fingerprint, signature sample and photograph data of the card-holder to identify a person. This data will be put in the Comelec’s data base during the continuing voters’ registration in an effort to cleanse the voters’ list.

Tancangco said Abalos has made public the united stand of the Comelec, adding that "we respect the decision of the SC." However, she still believes that upgrading the Comelec’s voter identification system is the only way to cleanse the voters’ list.

Lantion said he concurs with the policy direction stated by Abalos. Javier said the SC ruling should be obeyed.

Javier added that Photokina plans to file a motion for reconsideration before the High Court. He said he will await the SC decision on this new motion.

Meanwhile, the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) hailed the SC decision to scrap the VRIS project.

In a statement, Namfrel chairman Jose Concepcion said the P1.2 billion earmarked for the VRIS upgrade can now be spent on ballot counting machines.

"The investment for machines that will be needed to automate the counting of ballots for the entire country is estimated at a little less than P1 billion. Some 2,500 counting machines will be needed," Concepcion said.

"The private sector-Comelec committee working on the automation program as mandated by Republic Act 8436 estimates the total cost of modernization to be between P2.5 to P2.7 billion," he said.

This total investment would include shipment and insurance of machines, ballots, ballot boxes, recruitment and training of operators, implementation of a nationwide voter information program and other attendant costs, Concepcion said.

The Comelec modernization fund is reported to have accrued to P1.9 billion, Namfrel said. Concepcion also urged Congress to provide "additional funds to cover the balance" needed to complete the Comelec automation program.