‘Desperate’ Comelec wants budget for 2010 polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday expressed “desperation” over the delay in the release of funds for next year’s automated polls. Interviewed by radio dzBB's Lito Laparan, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez appealed to Congress to hasten the passage of the bill that would give the poll body the budget to fully computerize the 2010 elections. “Tulad ng sinasabi nila (na) hopefully by April ngunit sa nangyayari ngayon medyo hindi matutuloy. It's a desperate time already (kaya) nananawagan kami (na) hopefully in the few days sana mailabas na ‘yung budget," Jimenez said. [“They said they might pass it by April, but with what I can see I think it will not prosper. It’s desperate time already that’s why we are calling for the speedy release of the budget.”] He said if it not be passed before April, the government is likely to use manual election procedures, which critics described as prone to irregularities. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV