Comelec, Namfrel agree on automated ’04 polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced yesterday that it has forged a partnership with the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) for the automation of the May 2004 elections.

This came after the Comelec’s en banc approval of the resolution to issue the invitation to bid for the counting machines to be used in the next general elections.

The invitation to bid will be published on Monday, Jan. 27.

"This is an important step, and signifies a new beginning in the relationship of Namfrel and Comelec," Namfrel national chairman Jose Concepcion said.

The agreement follows the high-level meeting between the two groups last Jan. 13, which discussed various issues on poll modernization that would ensure that the 2004 elections will be clean, honest and orderly as provided for by the law.

Namfrel started pressuring the Comelec to start the process of automating the counting of votes in the 2004 elections early this month when it urged the Comelec en banc to sign the resolution that would pave the way for the acquisition of counting machines.

The poll watchdog, along with various multisectoral groups, has even formed a coalition that would push for the implementation of Republic Act 8436 or the Election Automation Law.

The coalition, called the Hi-Tech Boto Movement, was launched yesterday by Namfrel and other organizations including the Alliance of Women for Action Toward Reform (Aware), Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster sa Pilipinas, Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference of the Philippines, National Youth Commission, Kompil, Couples for Christ, Makati Business Club (MBC), and Adhikain at Kilusan ng Ordinaryong Tao.

Organizers of Hi-Tech Boto and some 50 organizations signed a manifesto demanding the Comelec to initiate the automation of the counting and canvassing system of the electoral process by signing the resolution approving the purchase of counting machines that will be used in next year’s polls.

At least a hundred more were expected to sign up before the nationwide relaunching of the movement tomorrow if the Comelec had not approved the resolution for the poll automation.