Supreme Court orders Comelec to bare details of preparations

By Edu Punay (The Philippine Star)
Link:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=573037&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Amid fears of a failure of elections due to reported glitches in the automated system, the Supreme Court (SC) compelled yesterday the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to make public details of its preparations for the polls on Monday.

By a vote of 12-3, the high court partially granted the petition of a group of concerned citizens, led by former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., and ordered the poll body to fully disclose its preparations for the conduct of the automated elections because of recent “alarming developments.”

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body respects the decision of the SC and would abide by its order but believed that the petition of Guingona’s group was unnecessary.

“The Comelec has always been very transparent in the implementation of the automation project,” Jimenez said.

In a 20-page resolution penned by Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the SC upheld the right of petitioners to information on the poll automation, which it said is “a matter of great public concern.”

Manual count junked

By RAYMUND F. ANTONIO (Manila Bulletin)
Link: http://mb.com.ph/articles/255262/manual-count-junked
 

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) junked Thursday the proposed parallel manual count in the country’s first automated elections on May 10, on the pretext that it would only open up opportunities for cheating.

In its unanimous decision, the poll body ruled that the manual count is not the “only” way to validate the electronic results of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, as pressed by religious leaders, IT experts, the Makati Business Club (MBC), and even some of the candidates themselves.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez, who read the contents of the resolution before the media, said adopting such measure would have an adverse effect on the automation process such as the creation of discrepancies or errors in the tallying of votes.

“The Commission also cannot accept that the mere existence of disagreement between the hand and electronic count should automatically be interpreted as proof of the inaccuracy of the electronic count,” the seven-page resolution said.

Comelec claims to be ‘90% ready’ for the May 10 polls

by Leila B. Salaverria 

From Philippine Daily Inquirer

Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100411-263652/Comelec-claims-to-be-90-ready-for-the-May-10-polls

MANILA, Philippines -- With a month to go before the country's first automated elections, the Commission on Elections said it was 90 percent ready to conduct the polls, with the remaining weeks to be focused mostly on delivering the voting paraphernalia.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body might set up a “situation room” where the progress of the delivery of ballot boxes, counting machines and other election materials would be tracked and monitored. The area would be open to the public.
“We're thinking of coming up with a monitoring facility here centrally located where we-- I mean the Comelec, the administrators as well as of course members of the media-- will be able to monitor the arrivals and the progress of the various materials that we're transporting,” Jimenez told reporters.

He said the area would be where the reports from all over the country on the status of the delivery of the materials would be sent.

“It will be I think a very, very useful tool for the public to keep informed of the progress of the election,” he added.

Jimenez assessed the Comelec as being very much ready to handle the elections, saying the major components of the event, such as the ballot boxes and the precinct count optical scan machines, have been manufactured and have been placed in the poll body's custody.

“Considering that all the major elements in conducting an election are already in place, I would say we are about 90 percent ready to conduct the elections. The fact that we've already started elections for the overseas absentee voting, that's already a good sign for us,” he said.

The poll body would now need to ensure that the election paraphernalia reach their intended destination. The delivery of the ballot boxes and the PCOS machines has begun, with the Comelec focusing first on the far-flung areas, he said.

“Over the next few weeks, we would be looking at the deliveries. That's where we need to focus our attention, making sure that these elements arrive on time and in the proper order,” he said.

Proper indelible ink to be used in polls - Comelec

by Mayen Jaymalin 

from The Philippine Star

Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=565761&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday assured the people that an effective indelible ink would be available in the May 2010 elections despite the planned re-bidding and delay in purchase.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the Comelec still has sufficient time to re-bid the supply contract and ensure the quality of the indelible ink.

“Don’t worry about it. (We will make sure) that even if the dye may be removed by a strong enough solvent, the discoloration of the skin cannot be removed,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez said the Comelec could easily handle bidding process for the purchase of indelible ink.

“Madaling procurement lang naman ito. Matagal na namin itong ginagawa. (It would be easy to procure because we have been doing this for sometime). We don’t expect any issue here (that will cause delays),” he said.

Rebidding set this week

He said the Comelec has tentatively set the re-bidding for the indelible ink this week.

Jimenez said a new bidding for the ink could be in the offing after Texas Resources Corp.’s product failed in the first test after the firm won the bidding.

The poll official stressed that a second bidding would be fair for all stakeholders since Texas Corp. had already failed.

The indelible ink plays a crucial role in determining whether an individual had already voted or not.

He said the Comelec is now 90 percent complete with the preparation and fully ready for the conduct of the elections.

“Considering that all major components in the conduct of the elections are already in place, I would say the Commission is now 90 percent ready for the elections,” Jimenez disclosed.

Election rules on posters Offenders all, Comelec says of major candidates

By Kristine L. Alave (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100320-259769/Election-rules-on-posters

MANILA, Philippines—Equal offenders all.

This was how the Commission on Elections described candidates for national office when it comes to following the law as their political advertisements continue to litter the streets of Metro Manila.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez on Friday said the poll body has found that several presidential, vice-presidential and senatorial candidates have posters and streamers in violation of size limits in the Fair Elections Law.

“We recently went on a drive across the city and we took pictures. It seems that it is widespread and commonplace. It’s not limited to a particular candidate or block. Everyone is equally in violation, it would seem,” Jimenez said.

The rule says that posters should not exceed 2 feet by 3 feet while streamers should be no more than 3 feet by 8 feet.

Oversized

Jimenez said many of the streamers and posters they found during their inspection violated these size limits. Many were also out of place and were posted in public infrastructures.

Jimenez said compliance with the poster regulations has been “dismal.” Candidates do not own up to the violations and blame their supporters for putting up the posters.

But the Comelec will not accept this alibi, he said.

“They must be reminded that according to the implementing rules of RA 9006, a candidate will also be held liable for the violations committed by his supporter,” he said.

Jimenez identified the offending streamers as those of presidential candidates Sen. Noynoy Aquino (Roxas Blvd. cor Vito Cruz); Gilbert Teodoro (Edsa Southbound); Joseph Estrada and Jejomar Binay (Edsa North Ave., Philam); Sen. Richard Gordon; and Sen. Manuel Villar (Edsa cor. Reliance St.).

The rest belonged to vice-presidential candidate Bayani Fernando (Edsa Cubao, and Shell North Luzon Tollway, Burol Balagtas, Bulacan); senatorial candidates Sen. Lito Lapid (Edsa cor. Reliance St.) JV Bautista (Edsa near Nepa Q-Mart) and Rey Langit (in front of the MMDA office near Edsa Guadalupe).

Three days to comply

Jimenez said the Comelec has also received reports that these candidates have been littering the provinces with their propaganda materials.

The candidates have three days from receiving notice to remove the offending materials.

Those found guilty of an election offense face imprisonment up to six years, disqualification from public and government office, and revocation of the right to vote.

Early this week, the Comelec notified Gordon, Fernando and Bangon Pilipinas presidential bet Bro. Eddie Villanueva about removing their giant billboards on South Luzon Expressway, Edsa and Quiapo, Manila, respectively.