Nancy reiterates call for Comelec's AES report on 2016 polls
Seeks immediate convening of joint congressional oversight

A year after the 2016 national polls, Senator Nancy Binay said that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has still to submit its comprehensive review on the Automated Election System (AES) that was used.

"Despite the findings of Stratbase ADR Institute last week, the Comelec should still issue its own review of the AES. Mahigit isang taon na ang lumilipas at kailangan nilang ilahad sa bayan kung ano ang mga problemang kanilang naranasan at ang mga solusyon na kanilang ginawa noong nakaraang eleksyon," Binay said.

Stratbase ADR Institute, a private think tank, conducted a year-long study and released a positive assessment of Comelec's conduct of the 2016 national elections. Prof. Dr. Francisco Magno, a member of Stratbase's Board of Trustees, said that the fast tally of electoral results made the elections 'better and more credible' compared to the past two elections.

"Mabuti na may third party na nag-review sa performance ng Comelec, ngunit kailangan pa ring gawin ng Comelec ang obligasyon nito sa batas," the lady senator added.

In line with the further checks on the Comelec, Senator Binay also filed a resolution urging the Senate to immediately convene the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) on the Automated Election System (AES).

In filing Senate Resolution No. 376 last week, the lady senator said that under Republic Act 9369, or the Amended Automated Election Law, the Comelec is mandated to submit to the JCOC a report evaluating the AES six months after the elections.

"The JCOC on the AES should be immediately convened so we can review all the issues that were encountered during the elections. We have to ensure that the integrity of the electoral process and to protect the sacred right of the Filipino to vote and choose the leaders of our country," Senator Binay said.

However, the Senate chairperson of the AES oversight committee, Senator Leila de Lima, is currently incarcerated and is unable to conduct hearings. This may further delay the review of the AES.

"I urge the leadership of the Senate to look into this problematic situation so we can go on our work. Mahirap po na lalo pang ma-delay ito," the lady senator concluded.