More than 17,000 in Bacolod support calls for parallel manual count

More than 17,000 signatures endorsing a parallel manual count in the May 10 elections were collected in just eight days in Bacolod City, a report on the Visayan Daily Star said, citing a former provincial governor. Leaders of two sugarcane farmers’ groups — the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) and the Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers, Inc. (PanayFed) — have also supported calls for a parallel manual count, the report said, citing former Negros Occidental governor Daniel Lacson Jr. “I’m for the parallel manual count in order to countercheck the machines and ensure that we have the right election results," NFSP president Enrique Rojas said. Similarly, the Talisay City Negros Cockers and the Partners Club also supported the move. The People Power for a Parallel Manual Count manifesto supports the call of the Makati Business Club and the Management Association of the Philippines to conduct the manual count as a contingency measure for at least the contests for president, vice president, and mayors. It stressed the parallel manual count is meant to complement and not replace the automated election system. Earlier signatories to the manifesto included Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, Governor Isidro Zayco, mayors Evelio Leonardia of Bacolod City, Eric Saratan of Talisay City, Alejandro Mirasol of Binalbagan and their officials. The Commission on Elections has remained undecided about the proposal. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV