No poll automation, No automation – Gordon

MANILA, Philippines - An administration senator on Thursday warned Elections chair Jose Melo that failure to computerize the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) would cost him his confirmation at the Commission on Appointments. In a statement posted on the website of the Philippine Senate, Senator Richard Gordon said Melo would not be fit to chair the Commission on Elections without an automated ARMM polls in August."Melo has no right to be Comelec chairman if he would not be able to automate the ARMM polls.

Republic Act No. 9369 had already done away with requirements that make it difficult to automate the elections and opened up the possibility of using different automated polling machines," Gordon said. "If Melo does not implement poll automation, should people think that he has capitulated to the dictates of those who protect systematized electoral fraud?" added Gordon, who heads the jointcongressional oversight committee on automated election system.

On Wednesday, Melo was quoted as saying that the planned automation of the Aug. 11 ARMM elections might not push through because of time constraints.He said that until now, there is still no bidder declared "successful" to supply the direct recording electronic (DRE) and the optical mark reader (OMR) technologies that the Comelec wants to use to modernize the ARMM polls.The ARMM is composed of six provinces namely Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

But Gordon reiterated that the government can buy two computers for every precinct in ARMM to be used for automated polls.After election, the polling software can be removed to be re-installed for use in the succeeding elections.

Meanwhile, the computers can be turned over to schools all over the ARMM."We are not only giving ARMM clean elections but also allowing its children to take advantage of up-to-date teaching methods, helping them secure hope for a peaceful and prosperous future," he said."

Automating the ARMM elections is crucial to automating our national elections in 2010. Without it, we will face the consequences of fraud-ridden elections yet again. Kung hindi natin magagawa sa ARMM ang poll automation at hindi ito magagawa sa buong bansa sa 2010, magaganap na naman ang 'Hello, Garci' at 'Hello, Bedol (If we cannot implement poll automation in ARMM now, and nationwide by 2010, we will have another Hello, Garci and Hello, Bedol),'" said Gordon.Gordon was referring to the alleged vote rigging scandals involving former Elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and poll provincial supervisor Lintang Bedol.

Gordon likewise stressed that the true interest of poll automation is to make sure that the vote of the poor equals the vote of the rich.He emphasized that computerizing the ARMM elections in August is vital in rebuilding the credibility of the nation's democratic system and empowering the people to rightfully choose their leaders."We are fighting a war on election fraud.

To fight a war, we have to act fast and act decisively, or else we will lose. Our people will lose. Automated elections should be working by now. We want to end cheating in elections. If we do not modernize our electoral system now, will we wait until 2013? How long will it take? If we don't fix this now, people will always question the elections," he said.Earlier, Comelec held a bidding for DRE but only one supplier had qualified in the eligibility requirements, while the applications for bids for OMR were accepted by the agency only last April 1.

Melo said the Comelec is set to consult the Advisory Council on Poll Automation to determine if the lone bid submitted for DRE "can be considered as satisfactory as a successful bid." - GMANews.TV