Transcript of interview with Sen. Chiz Escudero

FGE: Pinapakita lang namin dito how ill-prepared COMELEC is. Hiningi na ang pera't lahat, hindi naman nakita ang mga problemang tulad nito. Ire-require mo ng track record ng in the last 3 years at least 60% ng contract nagawa na at na-implement sa ibang bansa, tapos ire-require mo na 60-40 Filipino ang may ari? Walang kompanya na Filipino individual ang may kaya at nakagawa niyan dito sa Pilipinas. So clearly mayroon nang non-compliance sa terms of reference, or sa GPPB regulations. Whichever it is, non-compliance pa rin. At ang nakakakaba, kapag tinanong mo ang COMELEC kung anu-ano ang iaamyendahan sa batas, ang isasagot sakin ay "makapal na libro ang election laws natin." Parang tinanong mo ang pari kung nabasa niya na ang bibliya at isasagot niya sayo, "makapal ang bibliya."

Are you still optimistic na kakayanin nila?

FGE: I have never been optimistic that's why i voted against the P11.3B budget on the ground that we are or COMELEC is ill-prepared for it but having said that, we are trying to cooperate with them by giving them inputs, by raising these issues so they will be able to address them even before the problem crops up. And apparently, these were not even discussed or taken up during the deliberations in connection with the automation, one thing that is cause for worry insofar as candidates and voters especially are concerned.

Are we going manual?

FGE: I don't know but I asked for a commitment from the chairperson. But if in their hearts, kaya nilang aminin at magpakatotoo sa sambayanan na hindi nila kayang gawin ito, wag pilitin ang isang bagay na hindi makakaya at hindi kakayanin. Kung magma-manual tayo o hindi, sila lang makakasagot niyan.