Manual count almost impossible - Comelec

MANILA, Philippines - All proposals for a parallel manual counting of votes in the May 10 elections are being studied but it would be an impossible task at this point, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the proposal is now being studied but pointed out that it might not be possible to implement with barely two weeks before the elections on May 10.

“A parallel manual count for 75,340 precincts is not as simple as going to a grocery and buying a bottle of vinegar... It should be studied thoroughly. It has logistical and cost ramifications and personnel implications. It’s a complicated thing,” he said.

Jimenez said the calls for a parallel manual count issued by big business groups came as a big disappointment.

He said the Comelec had a meeting with some business groups and concerned sectors last Friday and “we started a very good model of cooperation.”

Jimenez said the initial agreement during the meeting last Friday was quite different.

“I have heard rumors or information regarding certain activities that will be undertaken on Monday that certain business groups intend to march to Comelec and essentially demand (that we) give in to their demands (of a parallel manual count),” he said.

Jimenez said the pressure being mounted by concerned sectors in pushing for a parallel manual counting of votes was “a very muscular attempt to force the Comelec to come to a decision.”

The Makati Business Club, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines and the Management Association of the Philippines pushed for the manual count which, they asserted, is “more reflective of the will of the voters.”

The big business groups proposed a parallel manual counting of votes at least for the positions of president, vice president and mayors to ensure transparency and enhance the credibility of the electoral process.

Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said the automated elections should not have been adopted if a parallel manual count would still be done.

“The law specifies this type of automated election. Before there were many complaints that we should go automated because there are many problems in manual. Now that we’re automated, they want (to go back to) manual,” he said.

Larrazabal said there is no need to do parallel manual counting since the Comelec had already allowed the conduct of random manual audit of five polling precincts for each of the 222 districts nationwide.

Jimenez, on the other hand, questioned the timing of the proposal, saying it might stir the usual “jitters” in manual elections that no voting would take place until the term of the sitting president ends on June 30.

“It’s actually opening up the possibility of that. You are opening the gate to that much wider than they imagine. You are introducing an element of instability in the system... this will derail the automation altogether,” Jimenez said.

Malacañang said they would not support calls for the holding of a parallel manual counting of votes.

Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said there is no reason to do a manual count since it would defeat the purpose of the automated voting system in reducing the opportunities for electoral fraud.

Olivar said a parallel manual count of votes would only threaten the credibility of the automated process.

“What if there is a discrepancy between the two results, the manual and the automated?” Olivar asked.

Quite different

Other political parties like the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) under former President Joseph Estrada wanted a parallel manual counting of votes instead of the random manual audit as favored by the Comelec.

The Liberal Party (LP) led by its standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III said they are amenable to the proposal of a parallel manual count.

Aquino said the Comelec must first disclose the list of areas where manual counting would be done to allow different political parties to deploy their poll watchers on election day.

“Guarding automated elections is different from manual (elections),” Aquino said.

Independent presidential candidate Nicanor Perlas, who wanted to postpone the elections, said the proposal for a parallel manual count would be a good safeguard in ensuring the integrity of the votes.

Only administration candidate Gilbert Teodoro and Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party (NP) are not supporting a parallel manual count.

Teodoro said the conduct of parallel manual counting of votes under the automated elections as provided under the law should have legal and factual basis.

Olivar, however, expressed exasperation over the calls to revert to manual counting of votes.

He said the public has been clamoring for a more effective system from the manual counting because of the big opportunity for cheating.

“Now that we’re shifting to automated, they still want full manual parallel one. So what is this all about? You know they want to have their cake and eat it too,” Olivar said.

“I understand why there might be concerns but I do not see how these suggestions will ultimately help the credibility and integrity of the new automated process that we are entering into now,” he added.

Olivar said the Comelec understandably had opposed the proposal since “it sets us up for a very contentious outcome of the elections.”

He said the Comelec has already committed to perform a random manual audit in selected precincts, which is more than what is required under the law.

“I believe that Comelec is already going well beyond the requirements of the law by instituting a higher, a bigger sample of voting units for manual audit. So I don’t think a parallel count is called for,” Olivar said.

On the concerns of a possible failure of elections that prompted the calls for a manual counting of votes, Olivar said they are based on speculations.

Olivar maintained the probability of a failure of elections is very low and is being floated by people with a hidden agenda.

“There are people who will not accept the fact that they may lose, as if it has been preordained that they should win and the prospect of defeat can only come from cheating,” Olivar said.

“I’m concerned that these seemingly well intentions that go with the suggestion of full parallel manual count is actually a cover for something more insidious that is being planned by people who will not accept the possibility of losing in a clean election,” he added. - With Marvin Sy, Jose Rodel Clapano, Sandy Araneta, Jaime Laude, Aurea Calica and Dino Balabo