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March 2, 2011 Press Release MGG EXPRESSES STRONG OBJECTION TO COMELEC PURCHASE OF PCOS MACHINES, CITES MANY DEFICIENCIES OF SMARTMATIC
The Movement for Good Governance (MGG), a coalition of reform advocates, joins the watchdog groups Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) and TransparentElections.Org.Ph in expressing its strong objection to a planned move by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to purchase the same Smartmatic PCOS machines that were used in the 2010 elections. MGG, through its Chair, noted economist, professor, and media personality, Solita Winnie Monsod, expressed the view that such a move would again throw into question the integrity of election results. As Monsod pointed out, there are numerous legal and technical grounds for our objection, and as responsible citizens of this country we cannot allow the voting results to be compromised. MGG appeals to the COMELEC not to enter into another contract with Smartmatic, citing position papers by LENTE and TransparentElections.Org.Ph. Both LENTE and TransparentElections.Org.Ph were actively involved in monitoring the 2010 automated elections and draw from the expertise of their members in the law and information technology fields. Neither group is politically aligned. MGG shares LENTEs position that the COMELEC can no longer exercise its option to purchase the Smartmatic PCOS machines. According to LENTE, there are legal impediments such as the fact that the option no longer exists. Under the contract, the option expired on December 31, 2010. Any extension of the period to exercise the option beyond December 31, 2010 amounts to a new contract that requires new bidding under the Government Procurement Reform Act or R.A. 9184 MGG also supports TransparentElections.Org.Phs position that Smartmatic failed to meet the obligations initially agreed upon in the Terms of Reference (TOR) given by the COMELEC when it bid out the Automated Election System (AES) for the 2010 National Elections and should therefore no longer be considered as a contractor. TransparentElections.Org.Ph listed ten deficiencies of the Automated Election System (AES) of Smartmatic that were observed during the conduct of the 2010 elections, among which are the
Rm. 405 Evekal Building, 855 A. Arnaiz Avenue San Lorenzo Village, Makati City Telephone No.:898.2913; Telefax: 898.2617 E-mail: wedeservebetter.ph@gmail.com; Website: http://mggphilippines.com
Rm. 405 Evekal Building, 855 A. Arnaiz Avenue San Lorenzo Village, Makati City Telephone No.:898.2913; Telefax: 898.2617 E-mail: wedeservebetter.ph@gmail.com; Website: http://mggphilippines.com