Supreme Court voids NP-NPC merger

By Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)
Link:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=573041&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Liberal Party (LP) stopped the Nacionalista Party (NP) yesterday from acquiring the status of dominant minority party after the Supreme Court (SC) voided the NP’s coalition with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

In a unanimous decision, the SC agreed with the LP that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) committed “grave abuse of discretion” in disregarding its own deadline in approving the NP-NPC coalition.

“(The) NP-NPC’s petition for registration as a coalition is time-barred,” read the decision.

“Thus, Comelec was wrong in ordering the out-of-time registration of the NP-NPC coalition.

“In so ruling, we emphasize that the matter of party registration raises critical election concerns that should be handled with discretion commensurate with the importance of elections to our democratic system.

“The Comelec should be at its most strict in implementing and complying with the standards and procedures the Constitution and our laws impose.”

If machines fail, teachers not ready for manual count

By Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao, TJ Burgonio (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100507-268519/If-machines-fail-teachers-not-ready-for-manual-count

MANILA, Philippines—Teachers manning precincts on Election Day will be at a loss on what to do in case the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines still do not function properly.

The teachers are not prepared for manual counting, Abelardo Brutas, secretary general of the Teachers in the Philippine Public Sector (TOPPS, said.

Brutas said one of the hindrances to manual voting is the clustering of precincts. A clustered precinct could have up to a thousand voters.

Manual elections would only be possible if the Commission on Elections (Comelec) restores the original number of precincts, which is quite impossible at this time, he said.

“Definitely, we cannot handle the clustered precincts, where we have to deal with about a thousand voters per precinct,” Brutas said.

300,000 teachers disenfranchised

By Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star)
Link:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=573032&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday to act on the complaints of some 300,000 teachers on their possible disenfranchisement in the May 10 polls.

The DepEd said the Comelec failed to reactivate the teachers’ registration as voters in their respective precincts.

DeEd Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs Franklin Sunga said the large number of teachers facing disenfranchisement was causing demoralization in the ranks.

“Our teachers have been religiously performing their election duties as part of public service since the country’s first elections. For them to be deactivated as a consequence of their service is grossly unfair. We urge Comelec to listen to the plight of the teachers,” Sunga appealed.

He said that in the past, the Comelec allowed teachers on poll duty to vote in their assigned precincts and not where they are registered.

Poll machines pass 2nd round of tests

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)
Link:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=573031&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Automated elections nationwide will be held as scheduled on Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday with renewed optimism after the machines passed a second round of tests.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said compact flash cards will be distributed by Saturday to 95 percent of the clustered precincts throughout the country.

“In case there would be precincts in very, very remote areas without compact flash cards or if they do not arrive on time, voters will still go and vote, and their ballots will be deposited in ballot boxes and, on election day itself or the day after the flash cards arrive and (are) tested, the ballots will then be fed for counting,” he said.

Results of testing of PCOS machines, particularly in Metro Manila, showed a 100 percent match of manual and machine counting of votes, he added.

Melo said manual counting of votes would be held only in small municipalities, in case a machine would malfunction and a spare one is not immediately available.

Smartmatic admits glitches, errors; Testing junked, 76,000 flash cards recalled Failed polls fears up as PCOS malfunction

By Marie A. Surbano (The Daily Tribune)
Link: http://www.tribune.net.ph/

Six days before the precincts open for the electorate to cast their vote using the new system of automated polls, real fears of a total failure of elections and a no-election scenario surfaced yesterday as precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines tested virtually nationwide, all failed, with the machines giving out zero votes to some candidates, while some candidates had all the votes.

Machine supplier Smartmatic and Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials also yesterday tried to allay the public’s fear, saying that these machine glitches that were experienced in areas where machines were tested, are easily fixed, adding that it was human error that led to the failure of the machines to correctly read votes for local positions.

Smartmatic Southeast Asia president Cesar Flores admitted its mistake and said the company is taking full responsibility for it, as Smartmatic failed to properly configure compact flash disks of the PCOS machines to properly read the votes for the local races because of a difference in the layouts of the national and local ballots.

“The PCOS machine incorrectly read the local ballot because the local ballot has double spacing. If you look at the national (ballot), they are all single spaced.”

Calls for manual count mount but Comelec says no

(Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100505-268135/Calls-for-manual-count-mount-but-Comelec-says-no

MANILA, Philippines—Widespread misreading of ballots in the testing of counting machines for Monday’s automated polls has revived calls from national and local candidates for a full manual count to ensure that no massive electronic rigging will occur on Election Day.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), however, quickly thumbed down the suggestions, saying it was confident that computerized balloting and canvassing will push through despite the technical setback of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines.

“We are confident that failure of election is not a problem,” said Commissioner Rene Sarmiento.

But Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno Aquino III wanted a firm assurance from the Comelec that it “will do everything within the bounds of the law” to ensure that automated elections would push through or else prepare for a manual count “as mandated by law.”

In a statement, Aquino said the misreading of the PCOS machines belied the poll agency’s claim that it is “ready.”

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 junks parallel count

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=571131&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - It’s official.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will only conduct a random manual audit of votes in the coming polls and not a full parallel manual count as demanded by some groups.

The decision sparked calls from various groups, including lawyers and business organizations, for street protests.

In a seven-page resolution, the Comelec denied for lack of legal basis the proposal to conduct a parallel manual count in all precincts for the positions of president, vice president, congressmen, governor and mayor.

“After having taken into consideration all the submissions of the various proponents, and after having considered the opinions of those who stand opposed, the Commission concludes that it cannot conduct a full parallel manual count,” the Comelec said.

Ballot distribution begins; Coast Guard to deliver poll machines

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=570173&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started shipping the ballots to be used in the May 10 automated elections to various areas nationwide.

The distribution of ballots to municipal and provincial treasurers’ offices in Mindanao and Luzon started last Saturday, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said yesterday.

Larrazabal said ballots were sent to the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Zambo Sibugay, Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, Palawan and Masbate.

He said the Comelec opted to distribute the ballots first in Mindanao provinces and other areas, which would take a longer time to reach.

He added that as a general rule, ballots should be delivered directly to the municipal treasurer’s office, but in some instances they are distributed directly to the provincial treasurer’s office because of security concerns.

Comelec exec tagged in secrecy folder deal Lawyer says directive to suspend bidding defied

By Leila Salaverria (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100426-266445/Comelec-exec-tagged-in-secrecy-folder-deal

MANILA, Philippines—The winning bidder in the scuttled purchase by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of ballot secrecy folders bagged a contract in 2008 after an election executive allegedly defied a directive of the poll body to postpone the bidding, a Comelec official said.

Lawyer Melchor Magdamo, who is assigned to the office of Comelec Chair Jose Melo, made the statement in an affidavit he submitted to a panel investigating the earlier decision to buy from OTC Paper Supply 1.8 million ballot secrecy folders at P380 each, a deal worth nearly P700 million.

The secrecy folder deal has since been junked, but the poll body has decided to probe the circumstances leading to its decision to buy the “extravagant” folders.

OTC has disputed claims that the folders were overpriced and has contested the Comelec decision not to push through with the contract.

Mock polls in Metro Manila deferred; PNP to secure poll machines

By With Reinir Padua (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=569883&publicationSubCategoryId=63


MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is postponing Thursday’s mock polls in Metro Manila to Monday next week.

This was revealed by National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) chairman Jose Cuisia, who said delays in the delivery of ballots and other poll paraphernalia prompted the rescheduling of the mock elections.

“There are also problems in the delivery of the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines,” Cuisia added.

He said the postponement indicated that the Comelec was still unprepared for automated elections.

“They claim that they are ready, yet we are talking only of one precinct and a thousand voters and they were not able to fulfill their commitment,” Cuisia pointed out.

Comelec prepares for manual audit

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=569882&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is preparing for a random manual auditing of elections results, according to Henrietta de Villa, head of the poll body’s committee on random manual audit.

She said part of the plan is the deployment of an additional 3,500 public school teachers to ensure the accuracy of random manual auditing.

De Villa said the committee has recommended the creation of a special board of election inspectors to undertake the manual audit.

The Comelec has rejected calls for a parallel manual canvassing of poll results, saying it is no longer necessary since a random manual audit is enough to do the job.

Smartmatic inks service contract with telcos for auto polls

By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=568672&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. (TIM) forged yesterday a memorandum of agreement with telecommunication companies to avail of their services in the May 10 polls.

The agreement was signed by representatives of Globe, PLDT Smart, Digitel and Smartmatic-TIM while Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials, led by Chairman Jose Melo, stood as witnesses.

Under the agreement, the system of these companies will be used to transmit the poll results from the voting centers to the canvassing centers and to the national canvassing centers.

“The way I look at it, this completes the circle because we are going to have preparations for the elections, the printing, the configuration and manufacture of the PCOS (precinct count optical scan) machines, everything,” Melo said.

Comelec won’t count votes for 32 ‘unaccredited’ party-list groups

By Kristine L. Alave (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100421-265550/Comelec-wont-count-votes-for-32-unaccredited-party-list-groups

MANILA, Philippines -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that votes for 32 party-lists in the May 10 elections will be considered “stray votes” for failing to secure accreditation from the Comelec, with 19 days left before election day.

These organizations have been printed on the ballots, but they have not received their party-list accreditation from the Comelec because of their failure to prove their constituencies, membership strengths, affiliation with a marginalized sector and their track record in previous elections, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.

“If you vote for them, your votes will be (considered) stray,” Jimenez said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

The Comelec identified the unaccredited groups as the following: 1-NET, AASCA, ABBA-AMA, ABO, ACMA, ACTS, AK, AKAP, AKAP TAO, AKI, ALNA, ALUM, ANG MINERO, ANG PADER, ANG SAMAKA, and ANG TRABAHANTE.

Comelec enters passwords for automated system

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=568388&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday took the first step to thwart any attempt to alter the results of the country’s first automated elections by entering passwords to secure the system.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said the poll body, together with two opposition legislators, already entered three separate passwords and locked the Central Canvassing System (CCS) of the automated election system.

Melo said he, Sen. Francis Escudero and Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr. each entered a six- to eight-character code to prevent anyone from opening the entire automated election system.

“Each of us entered a code and we don’t know each other’s password so the system is now locked and in order to open the CCS, the three of us should be there and must re-enter the code,” Melo explained.

Comelec: Poll results known in 3 days

By: AP, Helen Flores, Jose Rodel Clapano, Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=566926&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The results of the country’s first automated general elections will be known within three days.

This was announced by Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez after business groups said they feared the new system would fail.

The Philippines has brought in the nationwide automated system to replace the laborious manual system that took weeks to tabulate results, but influential business groups have called for a manual count as a backup.

In a statement Wednesday, the Management Association of the Philippines urged the Comelec to adopt a parallel nationwide manual count for the president and vice president to “mitigate, if not eliminate, the skepticism of many about the credibility of the automated election system and the results that it will deliver.”

Comelec urged to allow media to vote early

By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=566618&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Party-list group Alyansa ng Media at Showbiz (AMS) yesterday asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to allow members of media to vote ahead of the May 10 elections.

In a three-page petition, the party reasoned that media workers might not be able to vote on election day because they have to work to cover the polls.

“The worst thing that could happen to a Filipino citizen is to be deprived of his right to vote,” the group said.

The group asked the Comelec to allow members of the media to vote during their systems test, and use this opportunity to identify problems in the use of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines.

Comelec eyes expanded random manual audit

By Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=566611&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) might expand the coverage of random manual audit of ballots from a single precinct for every congressional district to five per district.

Election Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said the Comelec is expected to issue a resolution on the proposed expansion of the manual audit of ballots next week.

“Let’s wait for the resolution to be issued by en banc but it looks like five precincts per district. The other matters will be contained in the resolution. I don’t want to preempt (the decision),” Larrazabal said.

Electoral reform groups Automated Election System Watch, Center for People Empowerment in Governance and Consortium on Electoral Reforms have asked the Comelec to conduct a wider manual audit of ballots before the proclamation of election winners because a limited one would cast doubt on the results of the automated polls.

Poll adviser worried over loss of ballot security mark

by Kristine L. Alave

From Philippine Daily Inquirer 
Link:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100331-261718/Poll-adviser-worried-over-loss-of-ballot-security-mark

MANILA, Philippines—Another hiccup has led to one less election safeguard.

A major security feature of the machines to be used in the automated elections on May 10 has reportedly been turned off after tests failed to sense the ultraviolet (UV) mark that would identify a genuine ballot.

Ramon Casiple, a member of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Advisory Council, Tuesday expressed concern over the changes made on the security identifiers used in the ballots, saying the move could compromise the integrity of the elections.

Casiple said Smartmatic-TIM, the automated elections provider, and the Comelec had turned off the UV ink reader on all 82,2000 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines after the UV security marks on the ballots caused the machines to reject them.

“During the lab test performed last January, at least 20 percent of the ballots were not read by the PCOS machines,” Casiple said.

5 security measures

The UV ink mark is one of the five security measures in the automation contract. The others are the paper manufactured in Canada, bar code, Comelec security seal and the unique precinct-based numbers.

To replace the built-in PCOS UV reader, Comelec and Smartmatic-TIM will buy portable UV ink readers for the board of election inspectors (BEI) to use on Election Day to check the authenticity of the ballots, Casiple said.

“Before the BEI gives you the ballot, the BEI will shine the portable reader on it to show that there is the UV ink. What was supposed to be high-tech has become low-tech,” Casiple explained.

The Comelec is expected to purchase about 76,000 handheld UV readers for each precinct.