CHIZ GIVES COMELEC ONE MORE CHANCE TO FIX AUTOMATION RULES

With the failure in the bidding for the P11.3-billion poll automation contract, opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero now wants the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to propose changes in the terms of reference of the contract in a bid to save the program.

"The root cause of the failed bidding is really the TOR (terms of reference) which we have cited time and again for its inherent weaknesses and contradictions. COMELEC should explain this fiasco and propose measures to address the problems," Escudero said.

A hearing is set to be conducted by the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Automated Election System chaired by Escudero and Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin within the month.

"It has become apparent that the COMELEC has failed miserably in its task to automate the 2010 polls. It got itself into this rut, and it should now find a way to get out and salvage the automation deal," the senator said.

"It is unfortunate that for a program as critical to our democratic society as the poll automation is, we are going into this seemingly unprepared for the challenges that will come up, and unprepared for the legal requirements and technicalities that we will be facing," Escudero noted.

"COMELEC should have already foreseen the problems associated with the application of the Government Procurement Act when it drafted the TOR," he added.

Some of the problems in the TOR included the provision that required a 60-40 Filipino-foreign ownership structure for bidders. While an additional requirement is for a bidder to have a proven track required on the conduct of automated polls, Escudero pointed out that no Filipino company would be eligible since elections in the country have never been automated.

However, the senator said that as committee chairman, he was willing to work out a solution with COMELEC and suggest legal remedies to at least give the poll automation program one last chance.

"Poll automation was envisioned to strengthen the very fundamental pillar of democracy, which is clean and honest elections. It is supposed to do away with cheating, and ensure that the voice of the people is heard. This is what's at stake here and we are still committed to work with COMELEC to see this to fruition," Escudero explained.

Escudero had pointed in a committee hearing last April 20 the potential problems in the TOR as drafted by COMELEC, as well as logistics issues on the rollout of the automated polls.

"Even as we fervently hope to have the 2010 polls - and all elections henceforth - automated, we believe that we should always remain vigilant in ensuring that the automation program is implemented lawfully without resorting to shortcuts," Escudero said.

"In COMELEC's desire to eradicate the 'retail cheating' of manual elections, it might inadvertently pave the way for 'wholesale cheating' if automation is done haphazardly," he added.