Comelec’s voters’ info drive ‘weak’ – VP De Castro

The voter education drives by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) with regards to the May 2010 computerized elections have so far been “weak," a dissatisfied Vice President Noli de Castro said on Monday. “I’m sorry, but medyo mahina pa yung information drive nila (I’m sorry but their information drive is a little weak)," he said. De Castro was among the Cabinet officials who met with the Comelec Monday to discuss the updates in the election automation process. He said many voters may get disenfranchised because of their limited knowledge on how voting must be done in a computerized system. “Kinatatakot ko diyan maraming maging (I am afraid that there will be many) spoiled ballots. I’m even volunteering myself to help the Comelec sa (in the) information drive," he said. Presidential political adviser Prospero Pichay echoed De Castro's statement.“To them [public], this is alien without voter’s education, marami madi-disenfranchise (many would be disenfranchised)," he said. The Comelec is set to deploy regional caravans soon as part of their voter education efforts. It will also be working with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas for the election information drives. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, meanwhile, said the Cabinet officials were satisfied with the overall preparations of the Comelec. “We can see from the briefing that they are really quite prepared. All agencies must support the Comelec in this undertaking," he said. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMANews.TV