Beware of “Cyber-Garci”

Kabataan Party-list

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Mong Palatino today warned of a potential ‘cyber-Garci’ as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) finally inked the deal for poll automation in 2010 with partners Smartmatic-TIM.

Palatino said that until Comelec ‘makes public all terms involving the Smartmatic-TIM deal and unless it practices full transparency with regard to the processes, system and implementing rules and guidelines of automation, it will not be able to waylay the public’s apprehension with poll automation.’

“After all the brouhaha and apparent mismanagement, Comelec now owes it to the public to at least have the competency to assume full accountability and demonstrate clearly the workings and implementation of this automation from here on. We cannot just have the Comelec as a third party observer, a facilitator, with Smartmatic-TIM clearly holding the reins,” Palatino said.

“The Comelec should have complete control of the system, not 10 percent, 20 percent, not even 99.9 percent. It should have 100 percent control and knowledge of the machines, from the general operations to the nitty-gritty of the whole system,” he said.

Palatino said that the Comelec should ensure that all steps for automation should be consistent with the Omnibus Election Code, should be compatible with geographical requirements and that safeguards be immediately enacted.

He cited four safeguards: public counting, secret balloting, availability of verifiable documents, and open to electoral protest.

“These demands would not in any way hinder the holding of 2010 elections but on the contrary only aim to ensure a clean and controversy-free polls. The Comelec has ample time to do this, is obliged to comply with these. Otherwise, we call on the youth and the public to be vigilant and beware of a ‘cyber-Garci’ in 2010,” he added.

Palatino said that Comelec should also immediately come up with concrete implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the automated system.

Massive voters’ education needed

Palatino also said that the Comelec should immediately embark on a massive voters’ education with regard to poll automation.

“Or else automation may only result in massive disenfranchisement because the public is not fully aware of how this computerization of polls will work. From what we have surmised from previous demonstrations, the system to be used is intricate. The slightest crumpling or the merest marking may render a ballot invalid. Maraming kailangang ituro at ipaalam sa mga botante. May kaukulang programa at plano na ba ang Comelec para rito?” Palatino said. ###