Members of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), inspect and validate ballot boxes filled with Certificates of Canvass from 82 Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) posts, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila, Monday. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Officials of technology provider Smartmatic have no plans to leave the Philippines, pending an investigation on the controversial tweak in the script of the transparency server on election day, a spokesperson said Tuesday.
In an interview, Karen Jimeno, Smartmatic head of voter education, said the officials will cooperate with the probe being conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) .
She made the comment in light of a formal request filed by Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who wrote to her colleagues at the Comelec en banc on Monday asking them to direct the technology provider to bar its officials from leaving the country until the matter is resolved.
“Smartmatic respects the memorandum of Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, but they also think it’s unnecessary kasi wala namang balak umalis ‘yung mga officials ng Smartmatic,” Jimeno told reporters.
“They intend to fully cooperate with whatever investigation that Comelec calls for, or any political party calls for. They have no intention of leaving the country as well, so it’s really unnecessary to even have a hold departure order,” she added.
Guanzon has openly criticized Smartmatic for changing the script to correct the server’s reading of ‘ñ’ in the names of some candidates, saying it was a “breach of protocol.”
For her part, Jimeno said it is “important” to look “at whether there is a protocol for a minor change like a correction of a typographical error.”
“I think first, before we make accusations, we look at the facts,” she said. “There would not have been a change if not for also a member of Comelec putting in the password.”
“Because on the day that the typographical error was corrected, a Comelec ITD (information technology department) officer was also present. And in fact, it was the Comelec officer that typed in the password in order for Smartmatic to make the change,” she said.
“But even in the elections from day one, Smartmatic has really observed all the rules of Comelec, kasi very clear naman ‘yan. There’s always guidelines and there have always been rules kung ano ‘yung ifa-follow in order to implement ‘yung projects. So it’s really Comelec that runs the show, not Smartmatic,” Jimeno also said.
Comelec along with Smartmatic confirmed that such change was made last week, but said it was merely “cosmetic.”
Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who is at a close second in the vice presidential race, has alleged that his lead of about 1 million votes began to diminish “at a rather distinctive pattern” after a “new script” was introduced to the transparency server.
Both the Comelec and Smartmatic have repeatedly said the results are not affected by the said change. Parties present at the headquarters of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), where the transparency server is housed, were also informed of the tweak after it was made.
The Comelec en banc received written reports on the matter days later.
The poll body—through Commissioner Christian Robert Lim—then issued a memorandum that bars the technology provider from accessing the system of its official count without consent.
The consolidation and canvassing system is at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, where the Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), is tallying votes for senatorial and party-list races.
Lim, head of the steering committee for the May polls, said this “precautionary measure” was made in light of “numerous concerns and speculations” about the integrity of the system.
“Henceforth, access to the same shall be subject to strict protocols. Your personnel shall not be allowed access to the same unless with specific prior authority from the NBOC or the Project Monitoring Office. In any case, access to the same shall always be under the direct supervision of a duly designated Comelec personnel,” Lim wrote in the memorandum, addressed to Smartmatic Philippines general manager Elie Moreno.
Smartmatic personnel would also have to seek permission from Lim if they wish to examine any other equipment or system and follow the protocol of announcing any action to all parties present.
Guanzon branded the memorandum as a “stay away order.” (MNS)