Gordon: Abalos, Gloria’s election lawyer out to sabotage May polls - Malaya 10.24.2006

BY DENNIS GADIL

SEN. Richard Gordon yesterday accused Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos and President Arroyo’s election lawyer Romulo Macalintal of "sabotaging" the mid-term elections in May next year to pave the way for charter change.

"Talagang malinaw na may mga de-numerong galaw sila para ma-cancel talaga yang election at mapagbigyan yung mga humihingi ng Cha-cha (charter change) sa kahit na anumang paraan," Gordon said in a phone patch interview from Switzerland.

Macalintal earlier warned that mid-term elections might be scrapped if Congress would insist on the implementation of the automated elections law because of the lack of time for the bidding for a new set of counting machines.

"He (Macalintal) is the same lawyer who filed a petition before the Supreme Court so that the machines the Comelec purchased can be used but he lost. It is clear that they have a number of steps planned to have the election cancelled to give way for charter change in whatever way possible," Gordon said.

The machines, numbering around 2,000, were supposed to be used in the May 2004 polls under the contract between Comelec and Mega Pacific.

The Supreme Court voided the contract in January 2004, saying it was disadvantageous to the government, and asked the Ombudsman to go after officials involved in the contract.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez recently cleared Comelec officials and Mega Pacific executives of any criminal liability for the botched computerization.

Abalos earlier said the poll body has no more time to scout for a new supplier or to implement a partial automation.

‘DON’T PROCRASTINATE’

Gordon, chair of the committee on constitutional amendments, said Abalos should stop procrastinating.

"I think it is about time that the Comelec buckle down to work instead of listening to these people who are obviously trying to prepare the public or create social awareness na kunwari ay maka-cancel. Ipakita muna nila na kaya nilang gawin (poll automation)," he said.

He said there is a budget for poll automation unlike for the people’s initiative mode to amend the Constitution, which is being pushed by the Palace-backed Sigaw ng Bayan and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines.

Gordon said Comelec Commissioner Florentino Tuazon has told him pilot testing of the poll automation in six provinces and six cities was doable.

"Kakayanin daw nila. They can handle it," he said.

Gordon said Mega Pacific is re-inventing itself under a new corporate name with the main objective of again snatching a contract with Comelec.

"I have not seen the documentation but from what I have gathered there is a new corporation, different in name but perhaps practically the same stockholders that have bid to supply (counting machines) for the Comelec," he said.

Gordon said the Constitution mandates an election every three years and that the Comelec is duty-bound to conduct the scheduled May 2007 polls.

The proposed automation bill has been approved by the Senate and House of Representatives.

The measure provides for selective automation in 2007 and a nationwide implementation in the 2010 presidential elections.

The bill also directs the Comelec to scout for a new supplier of counting machines.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the 2007 election would push through as scheduled.

He said the no-election scenario of Macalintal is his personal opinion.

"We don’t necessarily share his opinion dahil iyung sa atin, binabago natin kung ano iyung nasa batas at batay sa umiiral na batas, meron tayong nakatakdang election sa May 2007," he said. – With Jocelyn Montemayor