Automation No More?

“We may have to go manual.” - Comelec Chair Jose Melo

Due to the lack of documents from the Security & Exchange Commission, the contract signing of the Smartmatic-TIM, the winning bidders for the automation of the 2010 election, which was scheduled this Friday was postponed to Tuesday and was yet again rescheduled to next Friday.

However, Total Information Management (TIM), the local partner of Smarmatic declared its withdrawal from the partnership for the computerization of the upcoming elections next year stating that lack of budget was the reason. A Daily Inquirer source said that the TIM was 300 million short of its budget.

The Comelec on the other hand said that the local counterpart withdrew without giving a justifiable reason and are willing to file charges against the company.

Juan Villa of Smartmatic was in contact with TIM and wer not giving up on the contract from the Commission of Election.

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Meanwhile, Commissioner Melo would like to see if the TIM people were contacted by anti-automation groups that may have caused their withdrawal for the election modernization.

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The only reason that there may be groups with such a cause is to make sure that the National Election will not be tamper proof, thus, making the process of vote counting vulnerable to those are are willing to lie, cheat and steal their way to whatever government seats. And that includes the Presidential and Congressional seat.

“I told them that the elections must push through. If you withdraw, you are putting your private interest above that of the national interest.” - Com. Jose Melo


Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer