Comelec gives 10 major political parties access to transparency server

At least 10 major political parties will be given access to the transparency server to in the upcoming May 2022 polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.

In a media briefing, Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said the 10 political parties will get the access along with the dominant majority and minority parties, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

“But for full transparency we include the 10 major political parties, which was approved yesterday by the en banc so dagdag na rin po yung 10 major political parties, they will have access to our transparency server. They will be receiving raw data coming from each precinct kapag may natratransmit, makakatanggap din yung ating political parties,” he explained.

Among the political parties identified are PDP Laban, National Unity Party, Aksyon Demokratiko, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party, United Nationalist Alliance, Lakas CMD, Nationalist People's Coalition, Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma, Akbayan, and Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.

“Labing dalawa po ito, without naming the dominant majority and dominant minority because it is still under the computation. But since 12 ito, two of which will be declared as the dominant majority party and the other one will be the dominant minority party,” he said.

“And the rest will be the 10 major political parties which will have access to our transparency server. They will be given a work station,” he added.

The Comelec has set up a transparency server to receive the electronically transmitted precinct results and disseminate to the dominant majority and minority party, and accredited citizen’s arm Kapisahan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas. This will promote transparency in the electoral process by having access to the election results data, the poll body said.

Casquejo said there were at least eight regional technical hubs designated in the country to repair defective vote counting machines (VCM).

However, he admitted that there are limited contingency VCM with only 1,100 during elections.

“The purpose of these VCM repair hubs is for the defective VCM to repair immediately kasi kulang tayo ng contingency machines natin so if possible marepair agad natin these defective or repair VCM,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Comelec commissioner underscored that the poll body’s  system is safe and secure ahead of elections.

“Kahit ano pa ang gawin nila, they cannot manipulate the results of the election. That is how secure our system is when it comes to our elections,” he said.

(No matter what they do, they cannot manipulate the results of the election. That is how secure our system is when it comes to our elections.)

“So kahit pa may sinasabing allegations that they are courting or getting information from any of the employees of the Comelec, useless din po yon. Itong mga nahuling ito, they are scammers,” he added.

(So even if there are allegations that they are courting or getting information from any of the employees of the Comelec, it is also useless. The ones arrested, they are scammers.)

Meanwhile, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia also announced the exemption of the different agencies from the election spending ban.

Among the petitions granted were the Department of Agriculture’s subsidy programs for farmers and fisherfolk program, Department of Labor and Employment, and the petition for exemption of Philippine Rice Research Institute, and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 10747, the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds are prohibited during the campaign period from March 25 until May 8, 2022.

The same resolution, however, allows exemptions from the spending ban provided that a certificate of exemption is secured to implement activities and programs on social welfare projects and services.—LDF, GMA News