Emboldened by the successful results of the field tests of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines last Thursday and Friday and in the spirit of transparency, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) approved Saturday the request of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) to have a representative present during the testing of the machines. However, the PPCRV will act only as observer.

The PPCRV, headed by former Ambassador to the Vatican Henrietta de Villa, had earlier been accredited by the Comelec as its citizen’s arm in the May 10, 2010 automated elections.

The Comelec’s approval of PPCRV request came amid criticisms that the field test of PCOS machines last Thursday and Friday lacked the element of transparency as only Smartmatic-TIM Corporation (STC) and poll personnel were allowed to observe, purportedly due to the security aspects of the tests.

Even mediamen were not allowed to observe the tests. They were only briefed on the test results by Commissioner Gregorio Y. Larrazabal who has been designated as official spokesman of the Comelec poll automation project.

The Comelec en banc also approved the PPCRV’s request for updates on voters’ education and information program on the automated election.

Likewise approved was the recommendation of Comelec Information and Education Director James Jimenez for a supplement to the General Instructions covering continuity plans which should be in the nature of a technical document and providing therein a protest mechanism.

It noted the updates on the creation of a Technical Working Group on Logistics and tracking of PCOS machines, ballot, and ballot boxes.