Gordon scores Comelec chief for scrapping poll automation plan

Sen. Richard Gordon scored Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos yesterday for virtually shutting the door to partial automation of next year’s elections.

"If we do not do partial automation in 2007, then we won’t be able to fully automate in the 2010 presidential elections," Gordon said. "Every presidency has been plagued by charges of electoral fraud. If we don’t clean up the system now, when?"

Gordon is the chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and the revision of codes and laws. He has also asked Abalos to resign if he cannot ensure the partial automation of the 2007 elections.

"His burlesque display of incompetence and unmitigated insincerity are glaringly apparent," Gordon said. "What about his duty to conduct fast, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections, when there is clearly so little faith in the existing system?"

"If Abalos cannot do the job himself, he should look for a contractor who can," he added. "This is not a time for excuses."

Gordon had recently observed the US’ midterm elections in November and saw various presentations showcasing how the poll computerization technology can be applied in the Philippines.

He also said the Comelec initially participated in crafting the new Automated Election System (AES) measure in Congress and was privy to this bill, but had stopped appearing as the process progressed.

Gordon said the Comelec cannot hide behind the alleged recommendations of its advisory council to limit election modernization to electronic transmission only: "Even assuming that this recommendation is true, then why is Abalos totally scrapping the project? The recommendation emphasizes that even partial automation can be done."

"The alleged lack of a budget is also not an excuse. The new bill provides for a budget," he said. "Comelec has enough resources to make it happen. After all, they said they have funds for Charter change."

Election lawyers support Comelec decision

Meanwhile, the country’s top election lawyers supported the Comelec decision to cancel any plans for the partial automation of elections as proposed by the Congress’ bicameral conference committee.

The legislative committee proposed the amending of several provisions of the proposed Republic Act No. 8436, or the AES Law of 1998. The committee is co-chaired by Gordon and Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin.

The measure authorizes the Comelec to use automated election system for the purpose of voting and counting of ballots in national and local elections.

Section 5 of the proposed amendments calls for a partial automation in two highly urbanized cities and provinces each in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao — or a total of eight highly urbanized pilot areas.

The same section provides that Comelec can only conduct partial automation in these areas provided that it obtains the consent of the councils of the local government units (LGUs) concerned and that their officials "have not been the subject of administrative charges within 16 months prior to the May 14, 2006 elections."

Election lawyers Pete Quirino Quadra, Sixto Brillantes Jr., and Romulo Macalintal said in a joint statement that "the Comelec may not have the luxury of time to conduct an honest-to-goodness bidding for the machines to be used for this partial automation and to test them and train its personnel, as well as the candidates and their watchers, in the features or use of these machines." — With Paolo Romero