Comelec: Cheating will be difficult in 2010 elections

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) assured the public yesterday that cheaters would have a hard time manipulating the 2010 elections because the voters are keenly watching the process.

“A lot of people will be watching. We expect this to be the most watched election in memory,” said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez when asked about Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s pronouncement that preparation to cheat the polls is now underway.

Jimenez noted those intending to cheat “will find it very difficult and an unprofitable venture.”

“Apart from the way the system has been designed (which is to be) resistant to cheating, the number of people watching the process unfold really prevents anything from happening,” he added.

He said the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines are “stand alone so the PCOS itself cannot be hacked.”

“The only time they are connected to the network is for the two minutes of transmission. The canvassing system, while they are on line, will be monitored from many sources and we have numerous back up. So even if a cheating operation is initiated, it will easily be discovered,” he added.

In reaction to the score card released by the group Automated Election Watch (AES Watch), Jimenez said that “fear is the greater danger to automation.”

“Despite the fear articulated by AES Watch, however, the May 10, 2010 national and local elections will be automated,” he said.

AES Watch’s System Trustworthiness, Accountability and Readiness scorecard had given the Comelec a failing grade on the source code which is supposed to show if the PCOS machines have been tampered with.

Jimenez said a “trusted third party certifying authority” is reviewing the source code after it has been certified.

Meanwhile, the Comelec allowed six more party-list groups to participate in the 2010 elections.

This brings to 150 the number of party-list groups that will fight it out for seats in the House of Representatives.

The six organizations are the Alliance for Rural and Agrarian Reconstruction Inc. (ARARO); LPG Marketers Association Inc. (LPGMA); Alyansa Lumad Mindanao Inc. (ALLUMAD); Alyansa ng OFW Party (Alyansa); Ang National Coalition on Indigenous People’s Action (Ang ANIP) and Bagong Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Samahan sa Sektor ng Transportasyon (Bangon Transport).

Jimenez said the applications of these groups were already in the “pipeline” when the poll body released last week the initial list of 144 party-list groups qualified to run in 2010 polls.

“The promulgation (of the 144 groups) is also without prejudice to anyone being removed or being added to the list,” he noted.

Asked about the allegation of some sectors that the party-list system is being used as a backdoor by some politicians to join Congress, Jimenez admitted that it is beyond the Comelec’s power to screen party-list nominees.

“That’s not our job. Our job is to publish the names of nominees. Our duty is to accredit the party-list organizations,” he added.

Party-list groups are supposed to represent the marginalized and under-represented sectors of society.

During elections, the individuals vote for the party-list organizations and not for their nominees who will sit in the House of Representatives when a group wins.

Jimenez added the Comelec just relies on the vigilance of voters and electoral reform groups to help screen party-list nominees.  –Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star)