Pimentel worried over automated polls in Maguindanao

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. expressed concern yesterday over the conduct of automated elections in Mindanao after learning that the company tasked to operate the polling machines had tapped operators identified with the Ampatuan clan.

Pimentel warned that the integrity of the country’s first automated elections this May is in grave danger of being compromised because of “serious problems” now surfacing in Mindanao.

“Reports had reached my attention that Smartmatic, the company tasked to provide and operate the machines to be used in the automated polls, had hired political operators with known connections to the Ampatuan clan,” Pimentel said.

He said reports that Smartmatic has hired a certain Arnulfo “Popoy” Cuyugan last December as its provincial coordinator in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) at the behest of the Ampatuans.

The senator from Mindanao was referring to the Ampatuan family members who are accused in the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people in the province.

Pimentel noted the massacre was triggered by the intense political rivalry between the Ampatuans and a rival clan. The Ampatuans have reigned over the province for decades.

“If this is true, then we might as well throw to the dogs this electoral exercise even before it is undertaken,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to look into the issue as a matter of public interest.

He said the Comelec should immediately make a statement and clarify the reports.

Reports said Smartmatic had hired people associated with the Ampatuans to man supervisory and higher posts for the automated polls in the entire Mindanao.

Smartmatic, for its part, said their only concern is the control of the technology that would be used in the elections.

“We only deal with the technology while election-related violence (which) involves human factor is beyond our control,” said Gene Gregorio, spokesman of Smartmatic.

“Human factor concerning the elections is something the government (would) have to address,” he added.

Pimentel pointed out the moral implications of a known political clan controlling any part of the electoral exercise.

“While there is nothing essentially wrong with being identified with the Ampatuans, under the circumstances, Smartmatic should refrain from giving the impression that the dominant political clan in Maguindanao can sway the appointment of its personnel who have a heavy duty to perform in the automation elections in that area,” he said.

Pimentel stressed the Ampatuans have been blamed for the manipulation of election results in the province.

The Ampatuans are known political allies of President Arroyo and have been credited for delivering the votes for the administration in the elections of 2004 and 2007.

Pimentel’s son and namesake Koko Pimentel had placed the votes in Maguindanao under protest following the proclamation of Miguel Zubiri as the 12th elected senator in 2007. – With Mayen Jaymalin