Comelec forms new upgrade committee

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will have a new committee for its modernization programs, one that will have no chairman.

At a press conference, newly appointed Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos announced yesterday the formation of a committee, described as a research group, which will present studies on various modernization strategies applicable to the poll body.

The modernization committee will be made up of Commissioners Resurreccion Borra, Florentino Tuason Jr. and Luzviminda Tancangco.

"Recommendations will still have to approved by the Comelec en banc before any project can be implemented," Abalos said.

He said the study group will be trying to determine the best approach in eliminating irregularities during electoral exercises.

Abalos pointed out that the committee will be concentrating on strategies and will not be taking up the controversial Voters Registration and Identification System (VRIS) and the Automated Counting and Consolidation of Results System (ACCORS) during committee deliberations.

He stressed, however, that Comelec procedures on public hearings and bidding will still be followed with regard to acquisition of equipment.

The Comelec en banc held its bi-weekly meeting yesterday to discuss the issue of modernization under the new poll body chief.

Tuason welcomed Abalos’ idea of a committee functioning as a study group.

He added that the new group will not be starting from scratch since the poll body has already accomplished a lot in terms of modernization programs.

Abalos, a former Mandaluyong City mayor and chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, has vowed to modernize the country’s electoral system and eliminate cheating during elections.

The Comelec has been working out plans to modernize the country’s antiquated electoral system by purging cheats from the list of registered voters and computerizing the counting of ballots.

His predecessor, Alfredo Benipayo had been in charge of modernization programs after taking the committee away from Tancangco.

Abalos served 10 years as a judge, a prosecutor and a mayor for several terms. During the Marcos administration, he lost in several bids for assemblyman and mayor, which he blamed on fraud.