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Parallel manual count ruling to be announced on Thursday


(Updated 4:34 p.m.) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to announce on Thursday its decision regarding a petition to conduct a parallel manual count on May 10 after bishops, businessmen, and even some candidates themselves called for it. The poll body has already drafted a resolution of the decision, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez told reporters on Wednesday, adding that the ruling was unanimous.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez holds a copy of the draft of the poll body decision on the issue of the parallel manual count which cannot be released without all the signatures of the en banc. - Kim Tan
"This will be finalized and will be released tomorrow," he said, adding that the resolution still has to be signed by the members of the commission before it can be released. In a separate interview, however, Comelec chairman Jose Melo admitted that the proposal would be too "difficult" to implement. "It is difficult at this time both legally and operationally to do it. Legally because the law states that we should automate nationally, full automation," he said. He also said that even the proposal to manually count the votes for only one position was not that encouraging. "It’s definitely out of doubtful legality… whatever number of positions," he said. Random manual audit Earlier, Commissioners Gregorio Larrazabal and Rene Sarmiento hinted they were not in favor of conducting a parallel manual count to be undertaken before results are transmitted from poll machines because the process would delay the proclamation of winners. In a separate interview on Wednesday, Sarmiento said that the parallel count “goes against" the principle of the random manual audit (RMA). Section 24 of Republic Act 9369 requires a RMA to be conducted in one precinct per congressional district in each province and city. But after much prodding from groups, the poll body decided to increase this to five precincts per legislative district, which is 1,145 precincts. Jimenez, for his part, said the poll body based its decision on the merits of the proposal and the inputs of their field officers who would undertake the parallel count, if ever it would be approved. "Everyone was consulted. Our field officials are very seasoned career Comelec officials, they know how to conduct an election, (so) their opinions matter to the banc," he said. Sarmiento, however, revealed that their field officers and the Comelec advisory council were against the count. “They are against the parallel manual count," he said. Hunger strike Independent presidential candidate Sen. Maria Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal and several members of the farmer-fisherfolk group Alyansa Agrikultura last week threatened to go on a hunger strike until the poll body decides to conduct a parallel manual count. On Monday, members of the influential Makati Business Club and the Philippine Bar Association had also asked the Comelec to conduct a manual count of votes for at least three positions in precincts nationwide. At a forum Tuesday, former Comelec chair Christian Monsod said he was in favor of conducting a parallel manual count on May 10. But Jimenez said the poll body’s decision was not based on personalities behind the petition, but on its effect on the conduct of the automated polls. "The personalities are not important," he said. However, the Commission is prepared to extend its assistance to Alyansa Agrikultura members who have begun their hunger strike at the Comelec’s offices. "If they decide to break their fast, we will give them food.... [the] Comelec will have to provide them with medical attention," he said. Sarmiento, for his part, said he hopes that the public will respect their decision, whatever it may be. “The moment we make a stand, I hope they support it," he said. But he said the petitioners may still appeal their decision to the Supreme Court, though he thinks it would be “too late" to do so. - LBG/RSJ, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV
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