Coloma clarifies ‘poll fraud,’ as more loom

Below is a rejoinder of Press Sec. Herminio Coloma to my column of Feb. 18. In “Coloma now spokesman for Smartmatic, PCOS?” I recited experts’ many exposés of Smartmatic’s shady background, and flaws of its precinct count optical scanners. They had pointed up the Venezuelan firm’s ineligibility to bid in 2009 for election automation because under-experienced with, and not the software developer but mere dealer of the PCOS, the battery of which even burned up while on demo; the removal in 2010 of all the voting machine’s security facets, its flop in test runs, thus last-minute replacement of tens of thousands of compact flash cards; the illicit purchase in 2013 of 82,000 leased PCOS units despite proof in a U.S. lawsuit that Smartmatic indeed was not the software owner; the fraudulent 60-30-10-percent vote pattern for admin-opposition-independent senatorial candidates in all precincts and districts, defying usual regional, religionist, and ethnic voting habits; and the PCOS’ spotty election canvassing due to nine-percent transmission failure in 2010 and 23 percent in 2013. The Comelec criminally has ignored all that. And in its defense, first two pipsqueak congressmen, then Coloma babbled the deflective mumbo-jumbo that critics should “prove their allegations in the proper forum.”

Coloma took exception to my line that he “heckled critics of Smartmatic’s PCOS: show proof of its vulnerability to fraud. He was reacting to Rep. Neri Colmenares’ plea last week for the Comelec to stop using the ‘dubious machines’ ... Coloma’s pitch came from left field. Rep. Neri had not directed his plea at Malacañang to merit a rejoinder from the press-sec; he had meant it for the Comelec, which has its own spokesman ... It could only have been a staged question-and-answer, directed by Smartmatic ... Coloma depicts the critics – topnotch info-technologists and social scientists – as remiss with their homework.”

Says Coloma: “These assertions are baseless and unfair. The statement I made on Feb. 8, during the regular Malacañang press briefing aired over DZRB, was a forthright reply to a question of a radio anchor. He asked for Malacañang’s reaction on the statement made by Bayan Muna Rep. Colmenares on Smartmatic’s PCOS. Here’s the verbatim transcript of that exchange:

“... Mr. Sebastian: ‘Sir, recently nagpahayag si Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares. He warns of poll fraud if PCOS machines and other Smartmatic technologies are used in the 2016 elections. Ano pong reaksyon natin?’

“Sec. Coloma: ‘Mahalaga ang integridad ng ating mga eleksyon at tungkulin po ng Comelec bilang independent constitutional body na tiyakin ito. ‘Yon pong mga alegasyon hinggil sa mga makinang ginagamit ay mga seryosong alegasyon. ‘Yon pong may tuwiran at kongkretong batayan hinggil sa mga bagay na ‘yan ay dapat po sigurong ihain ‘yung kanilang nalalaman sa tamang forum at tumulong po sa paglalatag ng kumpletong impormasyon para ‘yan ay matukoy ng mga kinauukulang awtoridad....’

“It is a common occurrence that members of the Malacañang Press Corps inquire about how the Office of the President views certain issues of national interest. It is evident in my statement that I only emphasized the importance of due process in looking into any allegations regarding the country’s election process.

“I also underscored the significance of getting the complete information and presenting this to the appropriate forum, in this case the Comelec.

 “I believe that you may have gone overboard in claiming that my exchange between the anchor ‘could have been a staged question-and-answer, directed by Smartmatic’ as this conclusion on your part is clearly without factual basis.

“Moreover, my statement is devoid of any allusion that the ‘topnotch info-technologists and social scientists’ as ‘remiss with their homework.’ Clearly this passage represents your overly expansive interpretation of the direct remark that I made.

“I hope that you will publish my side on this matter in the spirit of fair and balanced commentary.”

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Well then, Mr. Press Secretary, kindly answer one more question about Smartmatic-PCOS, so readers will know the Office of the President’s view:

What will the Daang Matuwid admin do about the Comelec’s P300-million midnight deal for Smartmatic to inspect the 82,000 PCOS, prior to P1.7-billion cleaning and upgrading, which in effect bind the government to reuse the questioned machines in 2016?

And please, Sir, no more of that blather to “go to the Comelec as the proper forum.” For, the culprit here is the Comelec itself. It already has misspent P13 billion to lease-purchase and warehouse 82,000 PCOS units, yet is aching to buy 34,000 more for P5 billion.

And none of that drivel too about the midnight deal being mere expansive interpretation. Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes himself admitted to signing it only two days before retiring last Feb. 2. And he did so, he said, just to spite the critics by showing ‘em who’s boss. In short, the P300-million deal was unnecessary, yet granted in gross and manifest disadvantage to the government – a corrupt act.

The Comelec did that even as it has yet to heed Congress’ order to look into the findings of state scientists. That is, that PCOS ballot images in the 2013 election had “mysterious digital lines” that likely resulted to “accidental senators.” In ignoring that while rushing to buy more from Smartmatic, the Comelec will repeat in the 2016 presidential-congressional-local elections the hocus-PCOS of 2010 and 2013.

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While we’re at it, we might as well warn voters about yet another omen of 2016 election fraud. And it involves Malacañang and the ruling Liberal Party.

At present 74 key positions in the National Police are held by mere officers-in-charge. These include the top three positions – overall chief, and deputies for administration and for operations – held concurrently by Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina. Also mere OICs are six regional commanders and their second-in-command, for Metro Manila,  Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog mainland, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and the Muslim Autonomous Region. As well mere OICs are the chiefs and their deputies in Metro Manila’s five districts, several cities and provinces, and the elite Special Action Force.

The present OICs may be the most suitable for their posts. Yet they have very limited powers. They may not hire rookies or fire bad eggs, or move personnel around. They may not initiate or innovate new projects because tied to the 2015 budget, and have no elbowroom for contingencies and emergencies.

What has it got to do with the 2016 elections? If this goes on till the mid-2015, the National Police Commission, the PNP promotions-assignments board, and local government officials would have no more time to vet properly the most suitable officers. Generals who request anonymity have begun to talk about it to a relative of President Noynoy Aquino. Commander-in-Chief P-Noy and Interior Sec. Mar Roxas, the likely LP presidential bet, will have sole discretion to sneak in their choices at the last minute. These appointees cannot be reassigned once the election period starts 30 days before the filing of candidacies in Nov. Local officials would have no choice but to accept the last-minute insertions.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo showed in 2004 how crucial last-minute appointees of police and military general are in routing the opposition.

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