Comelec chair, Smartmatic: No VCMs at Novotel

MANILA, Philippines – Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Juan Andres Bautista and an official of the vote counting machine (VCM) contractor Smartmatic on Monday assured the public that there are no VCMs placed in Novotel Manila Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

After personally visiting and verifying reports that there were VCMs hidden in Novotel near Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas’s bailiwick, Bautista and Smartmatic Philippines General Manager Elie Moreno firmly said there were no such machines in the hotel.

“Sa 5th floor, kasama natin ang mga katawan ng PDP-Laban (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, ng Liberal Party, ng PPCRV, ng Kontra-Daya at ilang miyembro media, wala naman kaming nakitang mga VCM sa mga kwarto. Hindi lang mga kwarto ng Smartmatic pati rin 'yung mga katabing kwarto na vacant,” Bautista told the reporters.

Bautista personally verified the reports to determine if the allegations that there were hidden ballots in Novotel where the Smartmatic technicians were checked-in are true.

Smartmatic’s Moreno, who insisted that there are no machines related to the May 9 polls stored in Novotel, explained that their technicians are in the hotel due to its proximity to their national support center.

“Our technicians are in hotel. They are actually part of the third level of the national support center. We are staying in the hotel because it is close by to national support center. But There are no VCMs here or anything regarding the machines here,” Moreno clarified.

Why Smartmatic technicians stay at Novotel? @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/vhIrsUy8DD

— Robertzon Ramirez (@iambertramirez) May 9, 2016

Meanwhile, PDP-Laban’s representative Charlie Ho questioned the stay of Smartmatic’s technicians in Novotel in Araneta Center.

PDP rep. Charlie Ho: Malaking question seguro kung bakit naka check-in ang Smartmatic technicians. @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/FTnsuMBJYO

— Robertzon Ramirez (@iambertramirez) May 9, 2016

On the other hand, LP’s spokesperson Ibarra “Barry” Gutierrez  said the Comelec’s move provided assurance to the public that no cheating or anomaly of tampering votes that is happening in the elections. He is thankful for the fast response from the Comelec.

“I would hope na mayroong kasamang assurance 'yun sa ating mga kababayan, na 'wag mabahala na nagkakaroon ng anything irregular or anomalous dito dahil ‘yun ang ayaw nating mangyari,” Gutierrez said.

LP spox Gutierrez: I would hope na may kasamang assurance yan sa mga kababayan na 'wag mabahala.@PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/cQIn3D8DBG

— Robertzon Ramirez (@iambertramirez) May 9, 2016

Bautista said that after the Comelec's verification, the public should move on from the allegations. — with reports from Robertzon Ramirez