Comelec chief: ‘No-El’ in 2010 possible

MANILA, Philippines - Elections chairman Jose Melo on Thursday expressed worry on the possibility that there would be no elections next year. Melo said this could happen if someone would go to the Supreme Court on the last minute to block the automation, leaving no time for the Commission on Elections no time to shift to manual elections. “Kasi by February, March, or April biglang nagka-TRO [temporary restraining order], how can we go back? We will not have time to go to manual," Melo said in a report by Tina Panganiban-Perez aired over GMA’s “24 Oras." “Yan ang kinatatakutan namin [That is our fear], to be frank. We can be held hostage by these people," he added without referring to anybody. Asked if what could happen in case next year's elections will not push through, Melo said, in jest: "E di gulo, rebolusyon [There'll be chaos, a revolution]." On May 6, Melo also aired his worries that the automation would not pursue after six of the seven consortiums bidding to handle the poll modernization were disqualified. The next day, the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) disqualified all the seven companies. After studying the consortiums motion for reconsideration, SBAC announced on Wednesday that it decided to consider four bidders, rejecting three others. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV