ON THE SIGNING OF POLL AUTOMATION CONTRACT

Now that the contract had been signed, I call for more vigilance on the part of the Filipino people. Now is not the time to let our guards down and renege on our duty to keep a watchful eye on the unfolding process.

I urge Chairman Melo not to disregard the issues that have been raised by lawmakers and well-meaning citizens against the legal and technical pitfalls of fully implementing poll automation in next year's elections.

As co-chairman of the Committee on Oversight on the Automated Election System, I shall continue to fulfill my duty to ensure transparency in the implementation of this historic undertaking, lest we be taken by surprise come election day.

Automation is not an end in itself but a means to an end. The end being clean and honest elections. Let us keep our eyes on the ball.