Press Release
May 20, 2016

Statement of Sen. Bongbong Marcos on the Cancellation of the Senate Hearing on the AES

It is unfortunate that the hearing of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System regarding the script change in the transparency server of the Commission on Elections was not able to push through because of a "last minute" notice from Smartmatic that they could not attend.

With the hearing intending to clarify the alteration of the script in the transparency server, which impacts significantly on the sanctity and integrity of the electoral system, Smartmatic officials owe the public a clearer explanation, rather than a cursory excuse, why they can't participate.

Smartmatic has been quick to claim that such change was merely cosmetic and did not in any way alter the results of the elections. If that is so, we expect them to be the ones eager to take advantage of the opportunity which the hearing is providing to settle the issue.

I hope Smartmatic would not make similar excuses should another hearing be scheduled. Otherwise, it would give more ground to concerns that the alteration of the script did cause more than just a cosmetic change.

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