Comelec will just monitor, not ban, cell phones
05/03/2007 | 10:29 AM
Cell phones won't be banned inside precincts, but election watchers will keep tabs on their owners to make sure they won't be used for cheating.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) made this clarification Thursday as the multi-sectoral Black and White Movement (BWM) formally questioned regulations on the use of cell phones inside voting precincts on Election Day.
"We cannot ban voters from bringing in cell phones inside voting precincts. But what we will ban is the use of cell phone cameras to take a photo of one's own ballot ... Surely if you take a photo of your ballot, what would be your purpose?" Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos said in Filipino during an interview on dzXL radio.
However, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, in a separate interview on dzBB radio, said it will be up to the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) to make judgments whether or not to allow election watchers to take photos with their cell phone cameras for "documentation" purposes.
"The directive to the BEI is clear. The purpose of the prohibition is to prevent cell phone cameras from being used for vote-buying," he said.
He warned against allowing voters to capture digital images of completed ballots, saying these might be used as "receipts" to claim bribe money from dirty politicians.
Jimenez said BEI members have instructions to approach cell phone users taking photos of their ballots, and to politely ask them to set their gadget aside.
He also said election watchers will get the same treatment. He said BEI members are authorized to sanction "disruptive" watchers, including ordering them to leave the polling precinct.
For his part, Abalos said election watchers will also guard voters against using their cell phones to chat while inside voting precincts, saying this may distract other voters.
"If the call is urgent, it's acceptable. But if you use it for small talk or chatting, you might be disturbing other voters," he said.
BWM convenor Leah Navarro on Thursday told dzBB radio that she and her colleagues wanted to clarify with the Comelec what specific guidelines would be imposed on cell phone use on May 14.
Navarro noted that cell phone cameras can be tools to fight poll cheating instead of these being used for fraud.
Meanwhile, the Comelec opened Thursday its Special Action Center that will handle complaints from candidates of cheating and character assassination.
Jimenez said the center will be at the new Comelec offices at the Palacio del Gobernador in Manila's Intramuros district. He said it will take complaints from its hotlines and the Internet. - GMANews.TV
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) made this clarification Thursday as the multi-sectoral Black and White Movement (BWM) formally questioned regulations on the use of cell phones inside voting precincts on Election Day.
"We cannot ban voters from bringing in cell phones inside voting precincts. But what we will ban is the use of cell phone cameras to take a photo of one's own ballot ... Surely if you take a photo of your ballot, what would be your purpose?" Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos said in Filipino during an interview on dzXL radio.
However, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, in a separate interview on dzBB radio, said it will be up to the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) to make judgments whether or not to allow election watchers to take photos with their cell phone cameras for "documentation" purposes.
"The directive to the BEI is clear. The purpose of the prohibition is to prevent cell phone cameras from being used for vote-buying," he said.
He warned against allowing voters to capture digital images of completed ballots, saying these might be used as "receipts" to claim bribe money from dirty politicians.
Jimenez said BEI members have instructions to approach cell phone users taking photos of their ballots, and to politely ask them to set their gadget aside.
He also said election watchers will get the same treatment. He said BEI members are authorized to sanction "disruptive" watchers, including ordering them to leave the polling precinct.
For his part, Abalos said election watchers will also guard voters against using their cell phones to chat while inside voting precincts, saying this may distract other voters.
"If the call is urgent, it's acceptable. But if you use it for small talk or chatting, you might be disturbing other voters," he said.
BWM convenor Leah Navarro on Thursday told dzBB radio that she and her colleagues wanted to clarify with the Comelec what specific guidelines would be imposed on cell phone use on May 14.
Navarro noted that cell phone cameras can be tools to fight poll cheating instead of these being used for fraud.
Meanwhile, the Comelec opened Thursday its Special Action Center that will handle complaints from candidates of cheating and character assassination.
Jimenez said the center will be at the new Comelec offices at the Palacio del Gobernador in Manila's Intramuros district. He said it will take complaints from its hotlines and the Internet. - GMANews.TV
