CHIZ TO COMELEC, SMARTMATIC/TIM: BARE GROUNDWORK FOR POLL AUTOMATION
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Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday asked the Commission on Elections and the Smartmatic/TIM
consortium to disclose to the public all of its activities in relation to preparations for the automated 2010
elections.
“The automation of next year’s elections is a very crucial and historical event. The Filipino people should be
provided with all the information pertinent to this activity, lest we be again be lulled into complacency,”
Escudero, chair of the Joint Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System, said in a statement.
The senator said Smartmatic/TIM should by now have completed or at least be gaining headway in its site
surveys of all the country’s precincts and have a clearer picture of how it intends to conduct voting in each of
the precincts.
“By now, the consortium should be able to answer questions on issues like transmission facilities, mapping
and the allocation of machines and resources to each cluster of barangays,” he said.
Escudero said Smarmatic/TIM received the complete list of the precincts by location from the Comelec
months ago, and it should have at least drafted a “master plan” by now.
“Has the scheme for the delivery of the machines been finalized? How are they doing in terms of
manpower? These issues should be addressed and presented to the public to dispel any fear or suspicion
of indiscretion or impropriety,” he asked.
The senator also wants to know how much funds have been advanced to Smartmatic/TIM, if any, and if there
have been any progress in the acquisition of the machines.
The consortium bid P7.2 billion for the automation of next year’s election, which had an approved budget of
P11.3 billion.
“I would also want to know what the Comelec intends to do with the savings from the automation budget. As
a constitutional body, Comelec has a wide discretion on what to do with its savings,” Escudero said.
Escudero said that the poll body has a status of fiscal independence and as such, it has the power to
realign funds released to it under budget rules.
He said that whatever the Comelec decides to do with the P4.1 billion savings from the automation budget
should immediately be made public and transparent and should be in accordance with the country’s
procurement laws.
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SEARCH FOR MISSING FERRY PASSENGERS, ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS
SHOULD BE PRIORITY – CHIZ
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Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday said that government should prioritize the search for missing
passengers of the sunken Super Ferry 9 instead of a probe into the cause of the tragic incident.
“There will always be time for an investigation into this latest sea tragedy. Let us focus our attention on the
search and rescue operations as well as providing immediate assistance to the victims and their families,”
he said.
At least 12 passengers were killed while about 30 others remain missing after the ferry sank Sunday
morning off Zamboanga del Norte. More than 900 passengers and crew were rescued by responding
vessels and coast guard ships.
Escudero also lamented the state of the country’s maritime industry, noting that most of ships plying the
country’s waters are reconditioned, second-hand foreign vessels.
“There are not enough incentives that will spur our businessmen to build passenger and cargo ships
intended for use in our waters,” he said.
“It is ironic that we have the best seamen who man the most modern ships in the world. But in our own
country, our people have to sail on board imported, second-hand vessels which have seen better days,”
Escudero said.
The 39-year old lawmaker said the next administration should give priority in developing the maritime
industry to spur inter-island trade and tourism and create more for the people.
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