Ex-poll chief Monsod backs parallel manual count

Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Christian Monsod on Tuesday added his voice to the growing calls for the conduct of a parallel manual count in the May 10 automated elections. Monsod, who served as poll body chief from June 6, 1991 to Feb. 15, 1995, said the parallel count is the "best way" to test the reliability of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and the source code or the software that will be used in the upcoming elections. "The manual count is the check on the electronic count. If the PCOS machine has been tainted, then the result will not be correct," Monsod said at a forum held in Intramuros, Manila. He said the Comelec should conduct a parallel count of the votes for president, vice president, and one local position before transmission. He added that a one-percent error rate is tolerable, but anything more than that is alarming. Comelec Resolution 9369 authorizes the Comelec to "prescribe" another manner or procedure for the canvassing and consolidation of votes. The same resolution also provides for a random manual audit of at least one precinct in each congressional district. The Comelec had earlier increased the number of precincts to be audited to five. On Monday, members of the Makati Business Club and the Philippine Bar Association asked the Comelec to conduct a manual count of votes for at least three positions in precincts nationwide. Despite his stand, Monsod said he does not believe the current Comelec officials are conspiring to sabotage the upcoming elections. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, who was also present during the forum, likewise said the present Comelec administration is better than the previous one. Hunger strike Last week, independent presidential candidate Sen. Maria Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal and the farmer-fisherfolk group Alyansa Agrikultura said they would go on a hunger strike until the poll body decides to conduct a parallel manual count. On Tuesday, members of Alyansa Agrikultura started camping out in front of the Comelec office in Intramuros. "Nananawagan kami sa Comelec na magkaroon ng manual counting kahit sa tatlo o apat na mahahalang posisyon—president, vice president, governor, at mayor," Alyansa Agrikultura member Rene Cerilla told GMANews.TV in an interview. (We are calling on the Comelec to hold a manual counting on at least three to four important positions—president, vice president, governor and mayor.) Cerilla also expressed concern that voters who are not familiar with computers would be disenfranchised. "Hindi na kasalanan ng electorate 'yon, kasalanan 'yon ng sistema (It's not the electorate's fault, it's the system's.)," he said. The group said it had secured a permit to camp out in front of the poll body's premises until May 3. Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said they have yet to decide on the matter. "We don't base our decisions on emotions, we're looking at the matter objectively," he said in an interview with reporters on Tuesday. — with Jacques Jimeno/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV