Smartmatic mulling case vs. three presidential candidates

Smartmatic-Total Information Management (TIM), which supplied machines used during the automated polls, is considering filing charges against three presidential candidates after their own technicians opened voting equipment found in Antipolo City. The company may file "charges against Sen. Anna Consuelo “Jamby" Madrigal, Olongapo City Councilor John Carlos de los Reyes, and environmentalist Nicanor Perlas for the unauthorized inspection of some PCOS (precinct count optical scan) machines at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Monday, Smartmatic Asia president Cesar Flores said in a chance interview with reporters. "We're still thinking... we'll ask our lawyers. They forced themselves into private property," he said. He likewise asked why the three would want to "tamper" with the supposed evidence if they really thought that they could find proof of fraud in the machines. "We have nothing to hide," he said. He also asked why the three presidential bets would think that they are the only ones entitled to check the PCOS. "What about other people?" he said. Earlier in the day, the Comelec ordered the transfer of the PCOS equipment from Rizal to the Senate, Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said. Flores said that the company has no problem with that. "If the Senate wants the PCOS there it's okay. I don't care about the PCOS, they can throw them into the ocean for all I care," he said, adding the only important thing for them is the recovery of the backup Compact Flash (CF) cards inside the machines. The technician was only following procedure when he kept the units in his custody despite the supposed security threats in the area, the Comelec said. The Comelec also said that it’s up to Smartmatic if it does indeed file charges against Madrigal, de los Reyes, and Perlas. "The machines are owned by Smartmatic-TIM," Larrazabal told reporters. "Whatever they do it's their call." - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV