Comelec eyes ‘mass’ revamp for 2010 polls

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Jose Melo is eyeing a “mass" revamp of the poll body to rid it of “operators" in time for the 2010 polls. Citing information that “operators" are now getting ready for next year, Melo admitted this is easier said than done due to civil service rules requiring “due process." “Kailangan siguro talagang dahil meron tayo mga naano kaya lang wala tayong ebidensya pero marami tayong naririnig tayo riyan, alam natin nariyan sila [I think we need one. But we have to gather evidence at this time. Still, I have received information about them and I know they are there]," he said in an interview on dzXL radio, when asked about the need for a mass revamp. He also noted that before undertaking a revamp, the Comelec has to follow civil service rules; including hearings to get the side of the affected party should a shakeup take place. Melo also warned these operators stand to thrive in case a manual counting for next year’s polls pushes through. “Kaya yan. kaya lang pag mano mano tayo ang nag-o-operate diyan mabubuhay na naman. ayan, ayan ang danger. Alam ninyo may network na yan [We are capable of holding manual polls but you know that with manual polls, there is the danger of election operators doing their thing. We all know their networks are still there]," he said. The Comelec is pushing for the swift passage of a P11.3-billion supplemental budget for automated elections in 2010. Still, Melo said these “operators" are few compared to the entire Comelec force. “Di naman marami pero meron yan dahil sa karamihan na Comelec the great majority are very honest [They are few compared to the great majority of Comelec personnel, who are very honest]," he said. In the meantime, Melo warned anew of greater costs if some lawmakers force a “hybrid" system of automated counting for national posts and manual counting local posts. He said a hybrid system will not lessen the 80,000-plus counting machines the Comelec will deploy to count votes for candidates for national posts. “Malilito ang tao at hindi tayo makaka-save ng pera dahil ang number na 80,000 idi-distribute na makina hindi mababawasan yan dahil magagamit for national elections. Dadagdag tayo riyan sa budget because we will be conducting also local elections. sabay-sabay. yun na lang ballot box, 2 ballot boxes tayo, isang automated isang manual. e di item pa lang na yan additional expense, magulong magulo yan [This will cause more confusion and will not save us anything. We will still use 80,000 counting machines for automated counting of votes for national posts. And we will have to use two ballot boxes, one each for national and local posts. That’s an additional expense, aside from the fact it will cause more confusion]," he said. But he said the Comelec is ready for the 2010 polls, whether the counting is manual or automated. - GMANews.TV