Comelec to meet anti-PCOS groups

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will meet next week with groups opposing the use of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in the May 2013 mid-term elections.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the poll body will start tomorrow the inspection of the 82,000 PCOS machines stored at a warehouse in Cabuyao, Laguna.

“I invited those who filed a petition against PCOS before the Supreme Court (SC) and requested them to hold a dialogue (with us) on Wednesday. They already lost so I hope we can talk and help each other,” said Brillantes.

The Comelec’s move to purchase Smartmatic International Corp.’s PCOS machines for P1.8 billion was questioned by the Automated Election System Watch and Sovereignty for Solidarity before the SC, citing the irregularity of the contract and the flaws and deficiencies of the machines.

The high tribunal ruled in favor of the Comelec, allowing it to go full blast in preparations for the 2013 polls.

Brillantes said he also invited former Comelec commissioner Augusto Lagman, who has been strongly opposing the use of the PCOS machines in next year’s elections.

He lamented that PCOS’s critics just kept on bringing up the 2010 elections and refuse to see the changes made on the machines.

“There are no perfect machines up to now. Instead of looking at the past, why don’t you look forward and help us,” he said.

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) were also invited to the dialogue.