Quick count stalls for hours as Comelec transparency server faces glitches
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) admitted that a technical issue slowed down the partial unofficial count on the results of the 2019 national elections.
The STAR quotes Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez as saying the Comelec's transprency server, which is also supposed to send the election data to media partners, is working and has received 80% of polling results. He said the problem is not with transmission to the server, but in sending the data from the transparency server to media computers linked to it.
The Comelec transparency server released partial unofficial results at around 6:15 p.m., which showed 0.38% of the results at the national level. It has not issued an update as of writing time.
The transparency server was supposed to send unofficial vote counts to media groups and watchdogs in intervals of 10 to 15 minutes.
As of 11:09 p.m., the Comelec website indicated that 86.69% of election returns have been transmitted to the poll body.
Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez says the problem is not with the transmission but with the sending of the data from the transparency server to the media partners, PPCRV. The data stored in the transparency server has reached 80 percent. | @EZMacairan pic.twitter.com/FsDVfCDtDX
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 13, 2019
Voting closed at 6 p.m. in most parts of the country after opening at 6 a.m. The vote counting machines were expected to transmit the vote counts to the transparency server and to the centrel server of the Comelec after polls close.
Makabayan bloc seeks explanation
Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc called on the poll body to explain the lack of quick count updates on its transparency server.
Rep. Sarah Elago (Kabataan Party-list) pointed out that in the two previous elections, the results were released real time.
"Di tulad ng 2013, 2016 [elections] na halos real-time ito. 71% na ngayon ang nabato sa main server pero 0.38% pa lang ang nasa transparency server," Elago tweeted at 8:58 p.m.
Rep. Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers Party-list) shared the same sentiments, pointing out that the Comelec provided almost real time updates in the 2013 and 2016 automated elections.
"One of the touted benefits of automation is supposed to be the quick and transparent counting of votes. This is beginning to feel like a throwback to the pre-automation era," Tinio said on Facebook.
Updates on the conduct of the Philippines' elections.
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon says only Cardema's application for substitution was given due course.
"His substitution is not yet granted because there is a pending petition or opposition on the ground that he us over 30 yrs old and cannot be a representative of a youth sector party list," she adds.
From @commrguanzon: (only) his application for substitution was given due course. His substitution is not yet granted because there is a pending petition or opposition on the ground that he us over 30 yrs old and cannot be a representative of a youth sector party list. https://t.co/Lxi7JmbqVl
— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) June 4, 2019
The Palace says it had nothing to with the Commission on Elections decision to approve Cardema as a substitute nominee for the Duterte Youth, a party-list that is actually for the "youth and professionals" sector.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo says the Palace recognizes Comelec's independence as a constitutional body.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo on Comelec approving Cardema party list nominee substitution: "We do not intrude nor interfere into the proceedings of any branch of the government or any constitutional body." @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews
— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) June 4, 2019
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez says the substitution of former National Youth Commission Chair Ronald Cardema as Duterte Youth party-list nominee has been approved.
One Comelec commissioner dissented and one abstained in the voting.
Sen. JV Ejercito says that he is open to a Cabinet position if President Rodrigo Duterte offers him one.
"If I know I will be effective, if I know that I'll be able to help in that position, if I can share my expertise, why not?" he says in an interview over ANC's "Headstart."
Sen. JV Ejercito who lost his re-election bid says that if his brother Jinggoy Estrada had not run, he would have secured a Senate seat.
Their father, Erap Estrada, who also lost his re-election bid as Manila mayor, allowed both Jinggoy and him to run because he didn't want to choose between them, Ejercito says in an interview over ANC's "Headstart."
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