Poll deferment will buy 'Garci machinery' more time to cheat

Postponing the anticipated May 10 polls would only give the infamous "Garci Boys" more time to carry out their plan of rigging the national elections. This is according to the Compact for Peaceful and Democratic Elections (Compact), referring to the group of Commission on Elections (Comelec) personnel accused of participating in alleged poll fraud in 2004 presidential elections. A series of widespread glitches marred testing of Precinct Counting Optical Scan machines (PCOS) on Monday, eventually derailing the Comelec schedule for the voting machine’s field tests. The incident later prompted an administration lawyer to suggest a deferment of polls. "It will only give time to strengthen the Garci machinery in favor of a no proclamation scenario and status quo, compromising the people's right to suffrage," said Compact convenor Loretta Ann Rosales, opposing lawyer Romulo Macalintal's proposal. The 2004 presidential elections, where President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo won over the late Fernando Poe Jr. by a slight margin was marked by alleged fraud. A year later, wiretapped conversation of then Comelec Commissioner Virgilio "Garci" Garcillano and a woman believed to be Mrs. Arroyo was released to the public. Mrs. Arroyo and Garcillano (referred to in the conversation as 'Garci') allegedly talked about the rigging of the 2004 elections. The President later delivered her now famous "I'm Sorry" speech but an impeachment attempt against her never prospered. Early this year, Comelec chairman Jose Melo gave an assurance that the Garci Boys, who were mentioned in the controversial wiretapped tapes, would be reassigned before the May polls. Digital signature Rosales, a three-term lawmaker and president of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms (IPER), said matters could even get worse because of the Comelec's insistence on not reactivating digital signatures. These signatures are a security feature that would ensure transmitted votes are valid and were sent by a duly authorized member of the Board of Election Inspectors. Using digital signatures is required under Republic Act 9369 or the poll automation law, according to Rosales. But the poll body had earlier argued that digital signatures would only delay the voting process further. The Comelec has already instructed its BEIs to press the "No" button when prompted by the PCOS machine with the question: "Would you like to digitally sign transmission of files?" "They are giving in to the image of speed but are compromising the integrity of the ballots," she said. Rosales said the absence of digital signatures would also render the elections "unofficial and illegitimate," and would only give rise to a plethora of election protests. "Ang mga talunan, pwede nilang gawing basis [ang absnece of digital signatures] para mag-file ng protest kasi hindi official ang results... Your ERs [election returns] must have digital signatures, otherwise when they are transmitted to the canvassing level, they are considered unofficial," she said. The group is suggesting that the Comelec reactivate the digital signatures while it is still reconfiguring the PCOS compact flash cards. The group suggested that the Comelec should "develop an alternative safeguard that would ensure the integrity of election results." Among Compact’s proposed safeguards is the parallel manual count — a suggestion that had already been thumbed down by the Comelec, saying it was not stipulated under the poll automation law. But Rosales said anything that is not stated in the poll automation law should not always be considered "unlawful," especially since it could help protect votes in the elections. "Iyong nasa law [use of digital signatures], tinanggal nila tapos ngayon sasabihin nila iyong parallel manual count wala sa law... Palpak naman sila," she said. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV