Comelec: We have up to 'Plan D' to ensure 2010 polls take place

MANILA, Philippines - Amid persistent speculations of a No-Election (No-El) scenario, the Commission on Elections said it has up to "Plan D" to make sure elections push through in 2010. Comelec Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) Chairman Atty. Ferdinand Rafanan said this is the extent of the contingency measures the poll body has prepared for. “We assure the public that the Comelec is prepared for any eventuality. There are plans in place and the plans are up to plan D," Rafanan said in an entry on the Comelec Blog site www.bagongbotante.ph. Last weekend, Malacañang urged the Comelec to come up with a Plan B in case there is a failure of bidding for automated polls. Rafanan said there will be a failed bidding if the Comelec rejects all motions for reconsideration and Smartmatic's bid would also be rejected. On Monday night, the SBAC disqualified the consortium Indra Sistemas/SAHI and Hart Intercivic for its “non-compliance" with the Comelec requirements. This left Smartmatic/TIM the only consortium qualified to bid for the poll automation project. Consortia AMA Group Holdings/ ES&S and Sequoia Voting Systems/USSC have filed their respective motions for reconsideration before the SBAC. Even if none of the bidders qualify with the Comelec's requirements, Rafanan said they are ready. “We are still focused on full automation. We are still on track. Let us focus our minds there," he said. - GMANews.TV