Comelec: Hybrid polls violate election automation law

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

FILE: PROOF OF VOTE. A poll worker (2nd from left) puts indelible ink on an elderly woman’s index finger after casting her vote inside a poll precinct at Delfin Geraldez Elementary School on Salvia Street in Barangay Kaligayahan Novaliches-Fairview in Quezon City on Monday (May 9, 2022). (PNA photo by Oliver Marquez)

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday thumbed down the idea of a hybrid poll system next year.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said this would violate the law which requires an automated method for the holding of the polls.

“Kasi po ‘yung automation law ay pure automation nakalagay at ang budget din po na binigay sa atin ay para sa pure automation lamang (It’s because the automation law mandates pure automation and the budget given to us by the government is for pure automation only,” he said in a message to reporters, when asked if a hybrid poll has a chance at least for the 2025 elections.

Republic Act 9369 or the Election Automation Law, enacted in 2007, authorized the poll body to use an automated election system in subsequent national and local elections.

The law aims to ensure transparency, credibility, fairness, and accuracy of elections in the country.

The Philippines’ first automated polls took place in May 2010.

Under a hybrid method, Garcia said it would take several days for votes to be counted.

On Thursday, poll watchdog Kontra Daya urged the poll body to consider the option of using a hybrid election system in next year’s elections, as its PHP17.9 billion poll automation contract with South Korean firm Miru Systems is being questioned.

It said a hybrid election system shall employ a manual counting at the precinct level and an automated transmission of the results.

Earlier, Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta revealed that he has discovered at least PHP120 million have been deposited to 49 offshore bank accounts from South Korean banks with indications leading to a Comelec official.

The service provider for the automated polls next year is based in Seongnam, South Korea.

Garcia said he was referred to by Marcoleta and vehemently denied the allegations.

Former Caloocan congressman Edgar Erice has filed a petition before the Supreme Court questioning the Comelec-Miru contract.