Comelec still clueless on technology for ARMM polls

MANILA, Philippines -  Barely seven months are left before the Aug. 8 regional elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) but the Commission on Elections (Comelec) remains clueless as to how it would conduct the polls.

In an interview, Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the poll body is still waiting for the recommendation of the Joint Oversight Committee on Poll Automation and the multi-sector advisory council on which technology to use in the elections.

Sarmiento said they hope that the Comelec could be advised soon so it could go “full blast” in its preparation.

“(We need the recommendation) anytime in January. Hopefully this January or on the first week of February we can get hold of the recommendation so that thereafter or by February, we can go full blast in the preparation,” he added.

Sarmiento gave assurance that even if there is a pending bill in the House of Representatives that seeks the postponement of the ARMM polls, the Comelec did not stop in its preparation. 

The agency, he said, does not want to be caught flat-footed in case the bill is not passed.

“(The other day) we met with the advisory council and Smartmatic. Of course it does not mean that we will use the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines of Smartmatic. We are waiting for the recommendation,” Sarmiento said.

Smartmatic had assured the Comelec that it was ready in case the agency decides to use PCOS machines in the ARMM elections. It is estimated that some 5,000 machines will be needed in the polls.

The Comelec is not about to revert back to manual election as Republic Act 9369 or the poll automation law provides for the computerization of the country’s elections.

In the ARMM regional polls, the voters in Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu, Lanao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi with elect their governor, vice governor and members of the regional legislative assembly.