NAMFREL ready for 2019 midterm polls

The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) on Tuesday assured the public that it is ready to extend assistance for the midterm elections in May.

According to Eric Jude Alvia, NAMFREL secretary general, the poll watchdog has been monitoring election-related issues since 2016.

"Tinutuunan ng panahon ng NAMFREL 'yung paghahanda ng paggamit ng automated election system. Isa na 'yung procurement, 'yung improvement sa sistema..." Alvia told GMA News TV's Balitanghali.

"Pangalawang aktibidad na ginagawa ng NAMFREL eh 'yung random manual audit... para tingnan 'yung accuracy ng makina. Pangatlo 'yung open election data," he added.

"Ito 'yung tinitingnan ng NAMFREL liban doon sa ibang ginagawa ng NAMFREL noon nakaraang eleksyon gaya ng pagmomonitor ng voter's list, voter's education pati citizenship education modules..." Alvia said.

Alvia said NAMFREL is also monitoring areas which failed to transmit results in the previous elections as well as those places with incidents of election-related violence.

"'Wag na natin hintaying humantong sa patayan o kaya nakikita nila na dehado sila, inuunahan na nila 'yung kanilang kalaban," Alvia said.

The election period started last January 13 with police setting up nationwide checkpoints.

The implementation of gun ban also started last Sunday. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News