Latest poll glitch: No indelible ink?

Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos denied yesterday a claim of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) that the Comelec would not be able to acquire indelible ink in time for the May polls.

"It is possible that by the end of... maybe even before April 25 we will have them," Abalos told The STAR, regarding steps to purchase the ink needed to identify voters who have already cast their ballots.

In a telephone interview, Abalos said the Department of Science and Technology has completed its "post-qualification" testing of the indelible ink which they have contracted to get for the May 10 elections.

"There is no problem. We will have the indelible ink available in time for the elections," he said.

The supplier is expected to make the delivery within the week, he added.

However, Namfrel chairman Jose Concepcion said it was too late for the Comelec to procure the indelible ink in time for May 10 as the award of the contract requires the supplier to have at least a month to import the needed materials.

"It is possible that we will have no indelible ink for this election," he said.

Concepcion said there is no alternative to indelible ink in marking the fingertips of people to prevent them from voting again under a false name.

"Indelible ink needs silver nitrate, a chemical not available locally," he said.

Concepcion said he will ask for an emergency meeting with Abalos today to discuss the contract to procure indelible ink.

"The contract should have been awarded as early as March 24, with staggered deliveries being completed last April 15," he said.

"I am asking for the minutes of that meeting (April 24), although I know precisely what happened at that meeting."

The lowest bid to supply 250,000 30 ml bottles of indelible ink was P9 million, Concepcion added. — Jose Aravilla