MANILA, April 25 – Malacanang on Sunday expressed optimism that next month’s local and national elections would be an orderly one.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is doing its best to ensure the integrity of the automated voting system which will be used in the May 9 polls.
“Tungkulin ng Commission on Elections (COMELEC) na tiyakin ang integridad at kaayusan ng darating na halalan. Tiwala ang pamahalaan na isinasagawa ng COMELEC ang mga nararapat na hakbang upang higit pang maging matibay ang integridad ng automated election system na gagamitin sa pambansang eleksyon sa ika-siyam ng Mayo,” said Coloma in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan.
The COMELEC has conducted mock elections last Saturday to test the transmission of the votes from the polling precincts to the canvassing centers. While the election said it has reached its 100 % tranmission target during the trial run, there were reports of communication problems due to poor signal reception.
The glitches during the mock elections and the security breach in the COMELEC’s website last Friday have caused some concern among the voting public.
“Kahapon ay nagsagawa muli ang COMELEC ng simulation ng aktuwal na halalan o mock election upang agad na matukoy at matugunan ang posibleng maganap na aberya sa mismong araw ng halalan,” said Coloma.
“Ayon sa ating mga natunghayang ulat, naging matagumpay sa pangkalahatan ang isinagawang mock election at maayos na naipadala ang mga boto mula sa mga nakilahok na polling precincts papunta sa mga canvassing centers,” Coloma added.
The Palace official also called on the Filipino people to help ensure a peaceful and honest election.
“Tungkulin nating lahat na pagtulungan ang pagdaraos ng isang mapayapa, maayos at may integridad na pambansang halalan,” said Coloma. ( PND )
