Comelec assures it is ready for ‘contingencies’

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reassured the public Monday it is ready for all contingencies. This assurance came a day after Malacañang advised the poll body to have backup plans to deal with obstacles to automated elections in 2010. But Comelec Special Bids and Awards Committee head Ferdinand Rafanan stressed their focus is still on implementing automated polls next year. “We have prepared for contingencies but our mind is focused on full automation. Ito nakalagay sa batas, lampas na ang panahon para sa alternatives [This is in the law, and the time for alternative methods has lapsed]," Rafanan said in an interview on dzBB radio, but did not elaborate. Rafanan admitted that while bidders have signed a waiver against asking the Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order against the automated polls due to some problems in bidding process, there is nothing barring taxpayers from doing so. He said the waiver of the right to file for temporary injunction or seek a TRO is part of the required documents for bidders. “Ang iba may karapatan mag-file ng taxpayers suit [Other people have the right to file a taxpayers’ suit]," he said. On Sunday, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the Comelec should have backup plans to deal with any potential problems that may block automated polls in 2010. On the other hand, Rafanan said surveys had shown 92 percent of Filipinos want full automation nationwide for next year’s elections, and any politician who goes against this risks rejection next year. Rafanan said their timeline for automated elections was delayed seven days due to the disqualification of seven bidders to undertake the automated elections. But he said that with some of the disqualified bidders now qualified again, they expect to “recover" the lost days and restore their original timeline. - GMANews.TV