Cayetano: Key is credible automated elections
LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD
CANDIDATES seeking elective posts in Pangasinan in 2013 can be reassured that the votes cast in their favor will be counted as theirs and there will be an easy way to validate it.
The assurance that next year’s election will be credible came after Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano led members of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System (JCOC-AES) in compelling the Commission on Elections (Comelec) not to reduce the number of transmission of election results from three to two.
Earlier, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes informed the Congress of its decision to reduce the number of transmissions to two servers only.
Cayetano, as the vice chairman of the JCOC-AES, told the commission that the decision not only violates the law but also erodes the integrity of the election process and results.
“To have a credible automated election system (AES) will level the playing field in Philippine politics,” the senator added.
After a lengthy discussion, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes relented and said the commission will reconsider and change its decision after hearing the arguments from lawmakers and technical consultants.
The senator earlier pointed out that by reducing the number of simultaneous transmissions, Comelec is unwittingly sending the message that cheating can be expected because only limited parties will have access to real-time transmissions.
“We installed three servers in 2010 because of the 99.9% guarantee it provided. With just two servers, you will not have that. Having only two servers gives the impression that there can be manipulation in the 2013 elections,” he said.
The minority leader said that eliminating elections watchdogs such as the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) or National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) as one of the three recipients removes another source for validating transmissions.
“Removing the server for the watchdog removes the right of the people, especially the media, to monitor the results and to ensure transparency of the elections,” Cayetano said.
“The mother of corruption is election cheating. We’ve seen that during the problem of legitimacy of the past administration,” he said adding that ensuring that the three “crown jewels”– machine, ballots and transmission – are safeguarded will eliminate the threat of electoral cheating in 2013.
“Without the threat of cheating, every candidate will have a fair shot in getting a chance to serve the public. Equality, the true essence of democracy, will be upheld when we have an AES that the people can trust,” he said.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
