|
PRESS
STATEMENT
AES Watch
January 18, 2010
Comelec
is not ready for AES;
prepare contingency plan NOW!
The
citizens’ appraisal of the Comelec’s preparations for
the first automated elections in the Philippines has been presented
by the AES Watch based on the paramount concern of holding and ensuring
clean, transparent and credible elections on May 10. The appraisal
shows that Comelec and its consortium partner, Smartmatic-TIM, are
not prepared to fully automate the May 2010 elections, putting the
coming elections at great risk because of delays and lack of safeguards
in the preparatory stage.
With
only less than four months left, this ill-preparedness of Comelec
and its lack of contingency plans compromise the trustworthiness
and credibility of the whole automated election system. Important
provisions of the election modernization law and Terms of Reference
(ToR) have not been complied with and the minimum standard requirements
that would allow poll automation to work are not met.
Moreover,
based on section 11 of the Automated Election Law, three months
before Election Day or on February 10, 2010, “the AES, including
its hardware and software components, should be certified as operating
properly, securely and accurately in accordance with the provisions
of the law…”
It is clear that, as of January 15, 2010 based on the appraisal
of the 20 points of concerns in the Star scorecard, many provisions
of the law and ToR have been ignored and AES implementation is already
way past the calendar that has been revised 6 times. By this time
it appears that the COMELEC is being confronted by insurmountable
challenges especially with regard to the AES implementation. If
the pattern of delays continues, the trustworthiness of the election
system is put to greater risk and vulnerability. This may result
not only in resource wastage but will also undermine the whole electoral
process thus affecting its credibility.
For
this, the COMELEC, as the country’s premier election manager,
should be held accountable, while recognizing that the poll body
is now hard pressed for time and lacks the necessary expertise to
fully automate the 2010 elections. Corrective measures must be quickly
undertaken to avoid the pitfalls of automation. Time is of the essence
now – there are only just 110 days to go before Election Day!
We
speak with one voice and with serious concerns about the fate of
the coming elections. The Comelec is not prepared. While there is
time, a contingency plan should be made to work NOW! Voters’
rights should be a paramount concern.
In
our homes, schools, communities and workplaces, let us double efforts
to prepare the people for the May election. On January 27, 2010,
the next Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) hearing
is set. Let us bring our voices together and help ensure that election
on May 10 is held as scheduled without fail.
|
