Manila prelate 'supports Comelec' amid automation problems

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales on Wednesday expressed support for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) amid the problems being encountered by automated election system.

"We support them with prayer and ask the good Lord to protect them, to guide them," said Rosales during a prayer session held at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila on Wednesday. The archbishop issued the statement after some precinct count optical scan (PCOS) units tested last Monday failed to read test ballots accurately, forcing the Comelec to pull out all the compact flash (CF) cards from their respective voting machines. (See: Some poll machines fail to read votes accurately) He said that at times like this, everybody should lend a hand so that the elections will push through. "We must support the efforts of the Comelec to ensure the coming elections will be peaceful, orderly, and honest," he said. Senator Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, who was also present during the session, said that the public should ask God to help the Comelec fulfill its duty. "We must always believe that there is a greater power that can make things right," he said, adding that he believes that the poll body under chairman Jose Melo can pull off the automated elections. Melo led a prayer for a clean, honest, and orderly elections during the event. - GMANews.TV