Senators alarmed over imminent widespread voters’ disenfranchisement

Congress committee hearing on the elections, February 5 (CenPEG photo)

An alarm was raised at the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, member of the JCOC which is overseeing the
“I hope Comelec officials in the municipal level know what
In the same hearing, Alfredo Pascual, spokesperson of the Automated
Pascual said that with limited time and under the restrictions set
The AES Watch, along with CenPEG and other coalition conveners,
Source code review

Meanwile, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, co-chair of
He added that there should be a clear process to ensure that the
But Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said what they can do is show the
Biazon, meanwhile, reminded Comelec officials that teachers must
Poll officials also confirmed that additional ballots for the 258,691
The official voters list was to be released February 9.

With regard to the random manual audit, the JCOC panel urged the
“I would want a third party to conduct the random manual audit
The Philippine Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV),
Also unresolved at the JCOC hearing is the conduct of the random
“Our theory,” Melo told the JCOC panel, “is that
Director Jose Tolentino said, however, even if proclamations will
“We will proclaim but you can protest later,”
JCOC panel members put it on record that this Comelec policy will (JCOC) hearing on February 5 that the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) lack of contingency plans and other problems could lead to widespread voters’ disenfranchisement.
May 10 automated elections, said that Comelec’s unclear response to the need for contingency in case the automated election system (AES) failed in many areas could disenfranchise many voters. He also cited other problems including the need for random manual audit and a real source code review that could bring similar results.
to do and what the contingency plans are,” Biazon said.
Election System (AES) Watch, raised concerns with regard to the Comelec guidelines for the source code review.
by Comelec, an independent, thorough and quality source code review cannot be made.
has served as a resource group for the JCOC on the elections.
JCOC, criticized the Comelec for treating the source code like a “diamond ring”. He said that the source code should be open to the public for review.
source code reviewed and tested is the same source code that will be burned in the machines.
results of the review of Systest Lab to interested parties and groups. This has prompted citizens’ groups such as CenPEG, AES Watch, and other NGOs to believe that the Comelec was not really interested in a real source code review as mandated by law.
be trained well so they can perform competently as election inspectors. He expressed concern over the results of recent field tests where some Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) broke down and elections results could not be transmitted.
voters who registered during the extended registration period will not be printed. Comelec Executive Director Jose Tolentino explained that changing the project of precinct now will cause delay.
Comelec to have a third party conduct the random manual audit.
so it will not be just among you. Comelec and PPCRV are the same people who have been running this whole thing since day one,” Escudero said.
a citizens’ poll watchdog, has been seen by some quarters as not independent and embedded in the Comelec.
manual audit. Reports show there are no clear instructions yet on the number of precincts to be audited and on how to use the results of the audit if discrepancies are found.
audit will be conducted after proclamation.”
be made on the winning candidates two or three days after the election these “will not be done with finality.”
he said.
cause even more confusion among the voters. (CenPEG News)