MANILA, Philippines - A group on Friday called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) not to sell its precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines that will not be used in the 2016 polls.
Earlier, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said they plan to sell the 82,000 PCOS machines to other countries also planning to automate their elections.
Jimenez noted there would be many takers since the “Philippines is being looked up to as a model for automation in Asia.â€
In a statement, the Movement Against Graft and Abuse of Power (MAGAP) said the planned sale of the PCOS machines could be just to cover-up for the alleged incapability of Smartmatic to maintain the machines.
"Nakapagtataka kung bakit ang Comelec ay nakipagkasundo sa Smartmatic para upahan ang mga nasabing PCOS machines at ang kanilang mga serbisyo upang pangalagaan, ibodega at imentina ang mga makina gayung alam naman marahil nila na ang Smartmatic ay walang teknikal na kakayahan, tauhan at bodega o warehouse para sa mga ito," the group said in a statement.
According to MAGAP, instead of selling the PCOS, Comelec should just have them fixed.
"Kapag ang mga dapat gawing pag-aayos sa mga kasalukuyang PCOS machines ay nagawa, makakaasa ang sambayanan na ang lahat ng mga maluluklok, mula Pangulo pababa ay mga tunay na halal ng bayan at makakaiwas din ana ating bayan sa mga kaguluhan dulot ng mga reklamong dayaan kaugnay ng mga makina sa halalan," the group said.
The Comelc is currently waiting for the inter-agency Comelec Advisory Council (CAC) to decide whether or not the PCOS machines could still be used in the 2016 polls.
The PCOS machines were initially leased by the Comelec from Smartmatic International Corp. in the 2010 elections and were then bought for P1.8 billion for the May 2013 polls.
Under the law, the CAC will have to review the machines to determine if they are still the best technology to use in elections. - Mike Frialde