Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon speaks before media on Friday calling for an investigation of a protocol breach by poll technology provider Smartmatic. The transparency server script was tweaked by Smartmatic to correct a character in the names of candidates with “ñ in them.(MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Commission on Elections chief Andres Bautista said it would have been better if technology provider Smartmatic did not touch the script of the transparency server, a move that has become controversial in light of a tight vice presidential race.
Bautista maintained that the change, done to correct the server’s reading of ‘ñ’ in the names of some candidates, did not affect the results.
However, he pointed out: “If they are prudent, they should have not.”
“Basically what happened is they changed it for cosmetic purpose, they are our technology provider, but before they can do that change, they need the password from Comelec… There are two people who have the password—from Comelec and PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, at whose headquarters the server is housed),” Bautista said.
He added: “There is no hiding. In fact, there [was] CCTV footage, but perhaps, if they are prudent, they (Smartmatic) should not have done it.”
The poll chief said anew that their records are open for anyone who wishes to look into the incident, which happened around 7 p.m. on May 9.
Last week, the camp of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who is at a close second in the vice presidential race based on the partial and unofficial count, alleged that his lead of about 1 million votes began to erode “at a rather distinctive pattern” after a “new script” was introduced to the transparency server.
Marcos’ camp has since called for the closing of the partial tally, and even a recount. Comelec officials, however, said they have not received a formal request on this.
Poll officials, as well as those from Smartmatic, have repeatedly said this does not affect the results, as the server merely receives them from the election returns transmitted by the vote counting machines.
Still, an investigation on the incident is ongoing. Some Comelec officials have also opined that the move was not according to protocol.
While saying the incident has been blown out of proportion to discredit the elections, Commissioner Christian Robert Lim—steering committee head for the May polls—disclosed that he would not have allowed the alteration if his permission was sought.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Rowena Guanzon passionately accused the technology provider of breach of protocol. She has formally requested for the Comelec en banc to direct Smartmatic not to let their officials leave while this is ongoing.
Asked for possible penalties against the technology provider, Bautista said, “Definitely, we will look into the contract on what penalties we can give them, but I think what is important is the protocol.”
He added: “We are already investigating the matter. We are looking into it. On whether to compel Smartmatic to [stay in] the country, I am not sure if we can do it, but I don’t think they are going anywhere. We haven’t paid them yet.”(MNS)