Comelec yet to decide whether to use PCOS in Bangsamoro plebiscite

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections is ready to hold a plesbiscite if Congress would enact the Bansangmoro Basic law before President Benigno Aquino III steps down in 2016.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, however, said the poll body has yet to decide whether to use the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines or not during the plebiscite in Mindanao.

He said there would be some logistical issues to address by the Comelec before the plebiscite is held in the region.

"Are we ready for the plebiscite? Yes of course, kung  gagamitin ang PCOS, pag uusapan muna yan...kasi nasa mga staging areas yan all over the country. Logistics issues yan," he told the weekly media forum in Greenhills, San Juan City on Wednesday.

He said during the last elections at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao there were around two million registered voters.

To date, the ratio of PCOS machine to a voter is 1 is to 1,000.