Namfrel opposes use of PCOS machines in ARMM polls

MANILA, Philippines - The National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has opposed plans to use precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections set on Aug. 8.

In its official newsletter, Namfrel said the PCOS machines should not be used in the ARMM elections just for the simple reason of saving time in the preparations for the regional polls.

“The Comelec and its advisory council’s expedient choice may be practical but this violates the principle of transparency and competitiveness in government procurement as guaranteed by the Oversight Committee and the Procurement Law,” Namfrel said.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes earlier said the poll body had already started informal negotiations with Smartmatic-Total Information Management (TIM) Corp. on the plan to use PCOS machines without the regular bidding process.

Smartmatic-TIM supplied the Comelec with more than 82,000 PCOS machines in the May 2010 national and local elections.

The Comelec Advisory Council (CAC) recommended the use of the PCOS machines since these are already available in the country.

But Namfrel said the Comelec still has sufficient time to undertake a bidding for new automated machines considering that the last ARMM polls in 2008 only required more than five months to prepare using the optical mark reader (OMR) and direct recording electronic (DRE) systems.

“The concern of the Comelec being unprepared by August may be unfounded as gleaned in the run-up for the 2008 ARMM elections. In that period, the election technologies to be adopted for the elections were decided in March 2008,” Namfrel said.

According to Brillantes, he does not want a repeat of the lack of preparations for the Oct. 25, 2010 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections that led to delays in the delivery of election supplies and paraphernalia.

Namfrel, however, said the Comelec and CAC should consider the use of other available election systems such as the open election system (OES) and the central count optical scan (CCOS).

PCOS machines, it said, remain to have questionable audit capability and safeguard features, thus requiring a better poll automation system.

“While Namfrel realizes the Comelec’s concern of being prepared come August, this is not enough reason to set aside the requirements, which would ensure that the ARMM voters and the taxpayers will get the most efficient and appropriate technology to be used for the polls,” it added.