Comelec’s indelible ink finally delivered

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos confirmed yesterday the delivery of 500,000 15-ml. bottles of indelible ink needed to identify those who have cast their votes.

However, Jose Concepcion Jr., chairman of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), wants the ink subjected to tests.

"I want to see if it is indeed indelible," he said. "I also want to test it with 12 solvents to see if it can be removed."

More tests should be made by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), he said.

Abalos said the shipment of indelible ink is in a Comelec warehouse, awaiting his order for distribution to polling precincts nationwide.

Earlier, Concepcion tested ink manufactured by the Pasig-based Texas Resources Corp. with the use of 12 types of solvents.

He was reportedly satisfied with the results of the tests.

Concepcion said the DOST will test if the ink delivered contains the required seven percent silver nitrate that would make it indelible.

He was told that the company’s product contains more silver nitrate, Concepcion said.

Namfrel had raised concern over the indelible ink after the supplier missed its scheduled staggered delivery dates, which were supposed to have been completed on April 15.

A week later, the Comelec announced that the contract to supply indelible ink had been awarded and that the company had manufactured the product in record time with the help of other firms engaged in the same business.

Last week, Abalos denied a claim of Namfrel that the poll body would not be able to acquire indelible ink in time for the May 10 elections

"It is possible that by the end of... maybe even before April 25 we will have them," he told The STAR in a telephone interview.

Abalos said the DOST 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.

However, Concepcion had said Comelec may not be able 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.

Concepcion said there is no alternative to the indelible ink used to mark 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.

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