Poll watchdogs asked to disclose links with Noy critics

MANILA, Philippines - A senior administration lawmaker asked yesterday election automation watchdogs to come clean on their alleged links with groups calling for the ouster of President Aquino.

Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, vice chairman of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms and member of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) on automated polls, was referring to the Automated Election System Watch (AES Watch) and the Citizens for Clean and Credible Elections (C3E).

He said there must be a public disclosure of the AES Watch and C3E as well as the National Transformation Council (NTC), which have been calling for Aquino’s resignation.

He said the two poll watchdogs should declare whether or not they support demands for Aquino’s resignation and the creation of a council of leaders to lead the country.

“We want these groups to come clean while they continue to lambast the efforts of the Commission on Elections to push for the total automation of next year’s elections,” Erice said.

He said if there was truth to reports that “there are ties that bind” AES and C3E with the NTC, then the 2016 polls could be in serious trouble.

He asked the JCOC to summon AES Watch and C3E to a hearing next week to allow them to clarify the reports.

“Our position towards next year’s election is quite simple – we want it fully automated and we want the most qualified expert in this field to help Comelec conduct it and guarantee honest and clean polls,” he said.

Meanwhile, the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) yesterday warned of more anti-Aquino protest rallies after the release of the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry (BOI) report on the bungled operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

KMU chair Elmer Labog said the BOI report is expected to ignite more protests demanding the immediate resignation of Aquino. – With Mayen Jaymalin