Comelec must explain VCM glitches — Duterte

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has to explain to the people the reported massive malfunctioning of vote counting machines (VCMs) that marred yesterday’s midterm national and local elections.

“The Comelec is an independent body. Let the Comelec first explain to the people before any investigation,” the President told reporters after casting his vote at Precinct 1245A Cluster 361 at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School here.

The President said he respects the Comelec as an independent constitutional body, thus he is giving it the chance to explain to the people what exactly happened and why such disruptions took place that could possibly have disenfranchised thousands of voters.

He said a separate investigation is in order even after Comelec issues an explanation.

Before casting his vote, Duterte presented his passport when asked by an election officer to present an ID. He skipped biometric fingerprinting as his Berger’s disease has rendered data from his fingerprint unreadable or inaccurate. Instead he was made to undergo manual check of his fingerprint.

A “kodigo” came in handy when the President cast his vote, assisted by long-time partner Cielito Avanceña.

He arrived at the polling precinct at 4:32 p.m. and stayed for about 20 minutes. Sources said the President’s precinct was the only cluster allowed to be located in a separate building, for security reasons.

There were seven other voters at the precinct when President cast his vote. The chair where he sat to cast his vote in the 2016 elections was put out of its glass case so he could put his signature on it. It has been displayed in the principal’s office since Duterte’s election victory in 2016.

Before leaving the polling precinct, President Duterte said he was glad there were no reports of massive violence that could have seriously disrupted the conduct of the elections.

The President said he was in contact with both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police almost every hour to check on the progress of the polls.

“I have yet to receive something that is more than just the ordinary violence. Nothing that big that would disrupt the conduct of the election,” the President maintained.

Meanwhile, Duterte said the election victory of administration-backed candidates would mean an affirmation of his presidency and his controversial programs.

He reiterated his readiness to resign from his post if he feels he no longer enjoys the confidence of the general public.

The President had actively endorsed the senatorial candidates of his political party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) as well as local candidates of his Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod party.

He told reporters he is optimistic his candidates – at least most of them – would get elected. –  With Christina Mendez

source: philstar.com

Comelec to disqualify indelible ink supplier for failure to meet technical specs

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday announced the disqualification of the winning bidder for the supply of 520,000 bottles of indelible ink after the company failed to meet technical and chemical specifications.

This means that the second lowest bidder will qualify for the supply of indelible ink after PhilTint and Color Specialist Inc. failed in the post-qualification process, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said.

The contract was for P72.3 million.

If they don’t follow the requirements specified in the bid documents, this is a ground for disqualification, Brillantes said, referring to PhilTint samples that were erased from the finger after solvents were applied.

Citing the procurement law, Brillantes said the Comelec is allowed to choose the next lowest bidders to present samples for testing until such time that it finds one that can stand against application of any solvents.

Earlier, former Comelec lawyer Melchor Magdamo said PhilTint and Color Specialist Inc. has “controversial roots traceable” to OTC Paper Supply, the supplier of P690-million worth of ballot secrecy folders used in the first automated election in 2010. At the time, the Comelec scuttled its planned purchase of the overpriced folders costing P380 each.

Magdamo asked Comelec to closely monitor the procurement of indelible ink, indicating possible irregularity in the bid.

Acting on this information, Brillantes said the second lowest bidder will be asked to present the samples of indelible ink for testing to the Bids and Awards Committee in a post-qualification process before awarding the project. The next lowest bidders will follow.

Asked if the second lowest bidder is eligible for the procurement of indelible ink if the winning bidder has been disqualified, Brillantes said, “Yes.”

“We will just declare the second lowest bidder as the winning bidder, lalabas na siya ang (he will come out as) lowest bidder, and it will be posted,” Brillantes said.

The bidding rules state that, “In the event the samples of bidders with LCB (lowest calculated bid) did not pass the technical evaluation, the bidder with the second lowest LCB shall undergo post-qualification processes and testing of its sample, and so on and so forth until the lowest calculated responsive bid is finally determined.”

The same rules require that indelible ink must “contain at least 7% of the silver nitrate. The stain on the nail, cuticle, and the first joint of the finger (second distal phalanx) must not be removed completely by any of the solvents specified in Section VII of the Bidding Documents; otherwise, the bidder would be post-disqualified for submitting non-responsive technical bids in the form of samples.”

source: interaksyon.com

Comelec Eases IP Registration Procedure

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has allowed Indigenous Peoples (IPs) to register as voters even without presenting identification (ID) cards.

Based on Comelec Resolution 9427, the commission en banc said they will allow IPs to be registered through the use only of Affidavit of Identification.

“If the registrant has no valid identification card, he may be identified under oath before election officers using the Affidavit of Identification by any registered voter of the precinct or any of his relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity,” said the resolution promulgated on May 17.

No registered voter or relative will be allowed to identify applicants for more than three times, said the Comelec.

If available, the poll body said IPs may present the Certificate of Confirmation issued by the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP).

Comelec field offices normally require the presentation of IDs during registration, such as company IDs, postal IDs, student IDs, senior citizen IDs, driver’s license, police clearance, passport, SSS/GSIS IDs, Integrated Bar of the Philippines IDs, and Professional Regulatory Commission License.

The Comelec had earlier identified IPs as among the most disenfranchised voting groups along with the youth, elderly, detainees, and persons with disabilities.

IPs are defined as a group of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and ascription by others, who have continuously lived as organized community on communally-bounded and defined territory.

source: mb.com.ph