Nacionalista Party senatorial candidates Susan “Toots” Ople and Ramon “Monmon” Mitra Jr., challenged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to prove they can efficiently handle the automated polls after junking the proposed parallel manual count.
They also blamed the Comelec for failure to give equal opportunity to lesser known candidates by holding forums like the “Comelec Hour” in the past.
“We agree with Comelec in junking the parallel manual count, pero dapat nilang tiyakin na na kaya nila isagawa ang automated election with all the safe guards,” Ople, the youngest daughter of the late Senator Blas F. Ople.
She said that the proposed manual count is like a double edged sword noting that it will be an additional burden to teachers who serve as members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI).
The young Ople noted that in case the parallel manual count of votes was not rejected by the Comelec, there still questions on which count shall be used as official.
“Kung sakaling hindi mag-tally yung bilang ng boto, alin ang mangingibabaw, iyon bang automated count o yung sa manual count,” she said.
For his part, Mitra Jr., the son of the late Speaker Ramon Mitra expressed fears that parallel manual count of votes may lead to violence in some areas.
“Kung hindi mag-tally ang bilang, posibleng magkagulo, may sapat ba silang kakayahan na avert possible violence,” Mitra said.
He described the proposed manual count of votes as “dagdag na trabaho” and batted for possible fall back position in case the automated election is not effective.
The young Mitra added that in the old manual system of election, cheating is prevalent and hope that it will be eradicated in the automated polls.
As a former Marines officer and son of former House Speaker who ran for presidency in 1992, the young Mitra said he has seen and experienced cheating in the elections.
However, he said that he and his family had just shut their mouths.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a better, honest, accurate and meaning elections this time,” he said.
As new candidates, both Ople and Mitra blamed the Comelec for its failure to spearhead forums in order to introduce new and young candidates.
They said that in the past, the Comelec used to hold “Comelec Hour” on television that serves as springboard of new and less monied candidates like them.
However, as the country modernizes its election system, the Comelec failed to hold forums.
They said that biggest losers in the automated polls are the new candidates like them and the electorate.
Both noted that there are 61 senatorial candidates, but not all have the money to pay buy airtime in television or radio and space in newspapers for their advertisement.
They also noted that media coverage of the election campaign has become predictable because most are focused on controversial issues and surveys.
“Minsan, it came to a point na naisip namin na mag-away kami para may kontrobersya,” said Ople.
However, Mitra said, “di natuloy kasi alam naming hindi kayo maniniwala.”
They also blamed the Comelec for failure to give equal opportunity to lesser known candidates by holding forums like the “Comelec Hour” in the past.
“We agree with Comelec in junking the parallel manual count, pero dapat nilang tiyakin na na kaya nila isagawa ang automated election with all the safe guards,” Ople, the youngest daughter of the late Senator Blas F. Ople.
She said that the proposed manual count is like a double edged sword noting that it will be an additional burden to teachers who serve as members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI).
The young Ople noted that in case the parallel manual count of votes was not rejected by the Comelec, there still questions on which count shall be used as official.
“Kung sakaling hindi mag-tally yung bilang ng boto, alin ang mangingibabaw, iyon bang automated count o yung sa manual count,” she said.
For his part, Mitra Jr., the son of the late Speaker Ramon Mitra expressed fears that parallel manual count of votes may lead to violence in some areas.
“Kung hindi mag-tally ang bilang, posibleng magkagulo, may sapat ba silang kakayahan na avert possible violence,” Mitra said.
He described the proposed manual count of votes as “dagdag na trabaho” and batted for possible fall back position in case the automated election is not effective.
The young Mitra added that in the old manual system of election, cheating is prevalent and hope that it will be eradicated in the automated polls.
As a former Marines officer and son of former House Speaker who ran for presidency in 1992, the young Mitra said he has seen and experienced cheating in the elections.
However, he said that he and his family had just shut their mouths.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a better, honest, accurate and meaning elections this time,” he said.
As new candidates, both Ople and Mitra blamed the Comelec for its failure to spearhead forums in order to introduce new and young candidates.
They said that in the past, the Comelec used to hold “Comelec Hour” on television that serves as springboard of new and less monied candidates like them.
However, as the country modernizes its election system, the Comelec failed to hold forums.
They said that biggest losers in the automated polls are the new candidates like them and the electorate.
Both noted that there are 61 senatorial candidates, but not all have the money to pay buy airtime in television or radio and space in newspapers for their advertisement.
They also noted that media coverage of the election campaign has become predictable because most are focused on controversial issues and surveys.
“Minsan, it came to a point na naisip namin na mag-away kami para may kontrobersya,” said Ople.
However, Mitra said, “di natuloy kasi alam naming hindi kayo maniniwala.”
