Solon urges Comelec to use of hybrid system in 2016 polls

An opposition House leader is convincing the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to totally reject the use of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and resort to the hybrid system for the 2016 polls, saying that using a automated canvassing election system is “more transparent and credible” than the PCOS.

Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares welcomed the statement made by Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista that the hybrid system is one of three options being considered by the poll body.

“We want the PCOS rejected because it is not transparent and is dangerous especially during a close presidential elections. PCOS is very expensive and it is a big trouble for the BEI (Board of Election Inspector) because the teachers will be swamped with complaints the moment many of these PCOS machines conk out or malfunction,” he said in an interview.

Colmenares, who led the filing of House Resolution No. 2073 prodding the Comelec to require the automation of the canvassing of votes, while allowing manual voting at the precinct level for the May 9,2016 polls, vowed to campaign for a hybrid scheme, which would only cost the government some to billion. “We will continue to push for the hybrid system because it is definitely more transparent and credible than the PCOS. It is also definitely cheaper by billions of pesos than the PCOS and it is also fast,” he said. He even proposed that the nearly

billion saved by not buying PCOS be used to double the allowances of BEI members.

Aside from the hybrid system, the Comelec is looking at the refurbishment of the existing PCOS machines and the 23,000 Optical Mark Reader machines; and the lease of new 23,000 OMR machines.