Palace hopeful Comelec will fix glitches in mock polls

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang hopes the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would be able to fix the glitches it encountered during last Saturday’s mock polls in time for the elections in May.

“Hopefully, they can (fix the glitches). I understand that they conducted mock polls yesterday (Feb. 2) and that, according to the Comelec, they hope to address the few glitches that they found,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

“I think even some of the observers noted the glitches themselves and continue to make Comelec aware that these have to be addressed for the May 2013 polls,” she added.

Glitches were experienced during the mock elections conducted in 11 voting centers on Saturday, but poll officials insisted the simulation was  successful.

The Comelec admitted there were technical problems in precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, but said this should not be cause for alarm.

“We have some initial minor problems but everything has settled down now. (Based on) our reports from the provinces, it’s still okay. We have not received any adverse report so far,” Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes told reporters Saturday.

Among the problems encountered were the rejection of some ballots and glitches related to the initialization of machines,

Brillantes said the problems occurred since the machines have not been used for almost three years. He said they could always replace the machines that are not working.

Comelec claims to have more than 81,000 PCOS machines for 76,000 polling centers.

The mock elections involved 1,639 actual voters from 11 voting centers.

Malacañang is also leaving it to Comelec to answer allegations that it has been lax in issuing gun ban exemptions.

“The Comelec is an independent constitutional body. Now, if there are allegations that it has been lax in giving exemptions, it should be the one to answer them,” Valte said.

The Comelec and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been criticized for successive violent criminal incidents despite the implementation of the gun ban.

Some groups are calling for a total gun ban but President Aquino, a gun enthusiast, believes this would not solve the problem of crime in the country.

Aquino is instead pushing for stricter enforcement of laws and the imposition of stiffer penalties for irresponsible gun owners.

Meanwhile, the media watchdog Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) said they are looking forward to broaden their monitoring of the elections.

Melinda Quintos-De Jesus, executive director of the CMFR said that while they lack funds, they are pushing through with the monitoring of the elections through the assistance of volunteers from civic organizations, the academe and journalists across the country.

“We don’t have enough funds this year, but we will still conduct a broader monitoring of reports for the 2013 elections,” De Jesus said.

“We will ask journalists in the provinces and other volunteers from colleges and universities,” she added. – With Dino Balabo