MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes fears that voting machines might be stolen during a power outage on election day.
However, Brillantes said they are closely coordinating with the police and military to prevent this.
The Comelec is also preparing contingency measures.
Brillantes said batteries of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines could last up to 12 hours to cover the entire voting period from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We don’t have a problem because there will be batteries... and we’ll have generator sets,†he said. “We bought several generator sets for the voters’ registration.â€
The Department of Energy (DOE) is fast tracking measures to solve the rotating blackouts in Mindanao.
Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said Mindanao would have additional power by 2015.
“The challenge now is how to address the power situation from now until 2015,†he said.
Petilla said the energy department and the Mindanao Development Authority, along with other stakeholders, are firming up measures to solve the power crisis in Mindanao.
“The DOE requests everyone to extend their utmost cooperation as we all seek solutions to the Mindanao power situation for the development of the region,†he said.
Senatorial candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) fear that the power outages in Mindanao might lead to election sabotage in May.
Nancy Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, said the power crisis in Mindanao can affect the outcome of elections and a likely ingredient to sabotage the elections.
The administration must immediately act to solve the power crisis to avoid a failure of elections on May 13, she added.
Binay said the problem of power supply will be more than just a technical failure in the transmission of votes if Comelec fails to address the security situation.
“My worry is about the voters who will be disenfranchised because of brownouts and the fear for their safety,†she said. – Sheila Crisostomo, Iris Gonzales, Jose Rodel Clapano, Paolo Romero