Madrigal, 2 VP bets to inspect ballots, poll machines
KIMBERLY JANE T. TAN, GMANews.TV
03/10/2010 | 08:01 PM
Only presidential aspirant Senator Maria Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal and two vice presidential hopefuls have agreed to inspect ballots and automated poll machines on Thursday at the request of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Earlier, the Comelec invited presidential and vice presidential candidates to visit the National Printing Office in Quezon City (NPO) where the ballots are being printed, and Smartmatic-TIM’s warehouse in Cabuyao, Laguna where the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines units are being stored.
The move was the commission’s efforts to "enlighten" the candidates about initiatives to ensure the "security and sanctity" of the elections, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said.
But he said that only Madrigal of the nine presidential candidates and Dominador Chipeco of Ang Kapatiran and Jose "Jay" Y. Sonza of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) of the eight vice presidential candidates responded to the request.
"We welcome the acceptance of the invitation, so that they themselves will see the preparations for the upcoming elections," he told reporters in an interview on Wednesday.
The commissioner said that other candidates will be sending their representatives, lawyers, or officers of their parties to the visit.
"They say their schedule is quite tight... (but sending their representatives) show that they want to be informed of the development and of the preparations and we welcome this," he said.
"This will allow for closer coordination... if they have any concerns, they can come to us, we will be happy to answer their queries," he added.
Earlier, members of the Joint Congressional Oversign Committee on Automated Elections were likewise invited to the NPO and Cabuyao facilities but only four congressmen showed up. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV
Earlier, the Comelec invited presidential and vice presidential candidates to visit the National Printing Office in Quezon City (NPO) where the ballots are being printed, and Smartmatic-TIM’s warehouse in Cabuyao, Laguna where the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines units are being stored.
The move was the commission’s efforts to "enlighten" the candidates about initiatives to ensure the "security and sanctity" of the elections, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said.
But he said that only Madrigal of the nine presidential candidates and Dominador Chipeco of Ang Kapatiran and Jose "Jay" Y. Sonza of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) of the eight vice presidential candidates responded to the request.
"We welcome the acceptance of the invitation, so that they themselves will see the preparations for the upcoming elections," he told reporters in an interview on Wednesday.
The commissioner said that other candidates will be sending their representatives, lawyers, or officers of their parties to the visit.
"They say their schedule is quite tight... (but sending their representatives) show that they want to be informed of the development and of the preparations and we welcome this," he said.
"This will allow for closer coordination... if they have any concerns, they can come to us, we will be happy to answer their queries," he added.
Earlier, members of the Joint Congressional Oversign Committee on Automated Elections were likewise invited to the NPO and Cabuyao facilities but only four congressmen showed up. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV
