Colmenares says Namfrel withdrawal to expose polls to 'cheating and fraud'
Published May 4, 2019 01:45 pm
By Ben Rosario
Opposition senatorial bet Neri Colmenares Saturday warned that the withdrawal of the National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) from its role as accredited election watchdog will expose the May 13 polls to “cheating and fraud.”
Bayan Muna chairman and senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares (RIO DELUVIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a press statement, Colmenares, who is running under the Makabayan coalition, lamented the Namfrel decision that was reportedly triggered by the rejection by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of its petition to have open access and data to the voter’s list.
The Comelec also thumbed down Namfrel’s appeal for access to data concerning precinct statistics, transmitted election turnover from the main server and audit logs.
“I cannot understand why COMELEC wants to withhold this information from its own accredited watchdog. If there is just one set of data and there will be no manipulation of the results, what’s there to fear?” asked Colmenares.
"This is a cause for concern especially since COMELEC’s lack of transparency may be used by the Duterte administration to rig the elections and ensure the victory of its candidates," the Bayan Muna chairman said.
Colmenares called on the poll body to reconsider its decision to reject Namfrel’s requests to avoid both election fraud and claims of cheating.
He noted that the past two elections have been tainted by reports and allegations of electronic fraud and vote manipulation by the COMELEC and its subcontractor Smartmatic.
Organized in 1983, the Namfrel is the first election watchdog to be formed in the country.
“Without open access to information and data, Petitioner is unable to participate in the Random Manual Audit (RMA) because the inaccessibility diminishes the verifiability of data separately provided during the RMA,” Namfrel said in a statement issued on April 30.
Meanwhile, the Quezon Public School Teachers Association and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers are set to launch today their “Election Hotline”.
“Our hotline will serve as our watchdog for our teachers who will serve as Board of Election Inspectors to protect our teachers who will encounter problems during the coming national elections,” organizers announced Saturday.
READ MORE: Namfrel declines citizen's arm accreditation from Comelec
Bayan Muna chairman and senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares (RIO DELUVIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a press statement, Colmenares, who is running under the Makabayan coalition, lamented the Namfrel decision that was reportedly triggered by the rejection by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of its petition to have open access and data to the voter’s list.
The Comelec also thumbed down Namfrel’s appeal for access to data concerning precinct statistics, transmitted election turnover from the main server and audit logs.
“I cannot understand why COMELEC wants to withhold this information from its own accredited watchdog. If there is just one set of data and there will be no manipulation of the results, what’s there to fear?” asked Colmenares.
"This is a cause for concern especially since COMELEC’s lack of transparency may be used by the Duterte administration to rig the elections and ensure the victory of its candidates," the Bayan Muna chairman said.
Colmenares called on the poll body to reconsider its decision to reject Namfrel’s requests to avoid both election fraud and claims of cheating.
He noted that the past two elections have been tainted by reports and allegations of electronic fraud and vote manipulation by the COMELEC and its subcontractor Smartmatic.
Organized in 1983, the Namfrel is the first election watchdog to be formed in the country.
“Without open access to information and data, Petitioner is unable to participate in the Random Manual Audit (RMA) because the inaccessibility diminishes the verifiability of data separately provided during the RMA,” Namfrel said in a statement issued on April 30.
Meanwhile, the Quezon Public School Teachers Association and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers are set to launch today their “Election Hotline”.
“Our hotline will serve as our watchdog for our teachers who will serve as Board of Election Inspectors to protect our teachers who will encounter problems during the coming national elections,” organizers announced Saturday.
READ MORE: Namfrel declines citizen's arm accreditation from Comelec