Abalos said the bidding for the ballot counting machines went smoothly and transparently. He also assured the public that the Comelec chose the best counting machine system and will have it installed in time for the 2004 national elections.
He also warned the public against misinformation regarding the implementation of the Comelec’s Electoral Modernization Program (EMP).
The Comelec chief said in a statement that the EMP is on schedule, with the implementation of all three phases of the program proceeding in a smooth and transparent manner.
The EMP covers the cleansing of the voters’ list and validation of registration of voters; automated voting, counting and tallying of votes; and electronic transmission of poll results from counting centers to the Comelec central office, political parties and citizens’ groups.
MegaPacific consortium edged out another bidder, TIM, with the lowest bid of P1.248 billion against the latter’s P1.297 billion.
Abalos said MegaPacific’s counting machines, to be provided by South Korean company SK&C, passed the stringent tests of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) based on speed, accuracy and ability to operate under adverse conditions like extreme temperatures and humidity and for extended periods. When tested, the ballot counting machines also showed an "unrivaled ability to reject fake or duplicate ballots."
Based on the DOST test results, Abalos expressed confidence that the Comelec will deploy a reliable network of counting machines that will allow the counting and tabulation of votes in a matter of hours, eliminating the election problems presented by the lack of an accurate and speedy poll count.
MegaPacific and SK&C are working double-time to prepare the pilot tests of the system by the third quarter of the year, Abalos said. Members of the media and concerned private sector groups such as the poll watchdog National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) would be invited to witness these pilot tests.
Meanwhile, Comelec Commissioner Resurreccion Borra also took a swipe at the losing bidders in the purchase of the ballot counting machines, accusing them of "logically" being the people behind the smear campaign against the Comelec. Borra is in charge of procuring the counting machines.
The two Comelec officials were reacting to reports and a newspaper advertisement alleging anomalies in the bidding and procurement process for obtaining these ballot counting machines.
"From the analysis of the white paper, you could tell that it came from the losing bidders," Borra said of the smear campaign. "Unless they come forward (to deny it), I believe it is the losing bidders who are behind the white paper."