Comelec must implement poll safeguards – Gordon
The law gives the Commission on Elections ( Comelec) no choice but to implement poll safeguards including the printing of the voter verified paper audit trail ( VVPAT) tape receipts, former senator Richard Gordon said yesterday.
In a statement, Gordon reminded the Comelec that Sec. 7 of Republic Act 9369, which he authored, “is very clear that there is no room for interpretation in complying with the provision.” Gordon is aiming for another senate stint.
He added that such provision states the automated election system ( AES) must have “functional capabilities,” for safety and accuracy like the VVPAT.
The Comelec has decided not to activate the VVPAT feature that allows vote-counting machines (VCM) to print receipts, saying the process might disrupt the timetable for the elections as well as provide cheating candidates with proof of consummated vote buying or selling.
“You can even extend the voting hours if necessary. Why don’t you want to comply? Are you trying to hide something? For the last 20 years, you have not been complying with the law. That is election swindling over and over again,” said Gordon.
He added the law calls “for a combination of screen, paper and system verification to ensure the sanctity of the ballot.”
Gordon also chided former Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes for accusing him of seeking publicity in filing with the Supreme Court a petition to compel the poll body to activate the VVPAT.
Gordon said Brillantes did not want the feature activated as it would reveal inaccuracies in the operation of the VCM, previously called precinct count optical scan machines.
On Comelec’s claim that printed receipts could be used as a tool for vote buying or vote selling, Gordon pointed out that the Comelec has yet to charge anyone with vote buying.
He added the Comelec may instruct the Philippine National Police to monitor voters who would hand their receipts to anyone.
Gordon said that because of the Comelec’s refusal to comply with the law during the 2010 and 2013 elections, the integrity of the elections has remained questionable.
He added that there is a danger that the results of the 2016 elections would again be compromised if the Comelec is not compelled to comply with RA 9369.
Meanwhile, an inter- faith coalition that advocates fair, accurate and honest elections is also calling on the Comelec to implement security provisions of RA 9369.
“Our call finds more relevance and significance in the light of the recent survey by Pulse Asia finding that 4 out of 10 voters believe that cheating will happen in the coming elections,” said bishop Efraim Tendero, secretary general of the World Evangelical Alliance and one of the lead convenors of the FAITH. e Coalition ( Inter- Faith Coalition for Fairness, Accuracy, Integrity and Honesty in Elections).
“If the Commission will faithfully implement the security provisions mandated by law, this confidencebuilding measure will impact positively on the public’s perception of the credibility of our elections and the stability of our democracy – an invaluable gain we made as a united people 30 years ago in EDSA,” he added.
“Based on our assessments, the voter’s receipt remains to be the most effective means for the voting public to verify that the machines have read and counted their votes correctly,” Tendero explained.
“The voter receipt is one of the ‘ minimum system capabilities’ prescribed by RA 9369 or the Election Automation Law. The Comelec has no prerogative to decide whether to implement the voter receipt or not. Its mandate is to fully implement the law,” said Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo.