EPCC NEWS

January 11, 2010



Filipino Bishop notes ‘ominous’ signs for May 10 Presidential polls

Los Angeles – With the imported counting machines have been arriving in trickles, government websites have been hacked with relative ease, and the crucial task of educating the voters seems to have fallen on the shoulders—and gyrating hips—of the Sex Bomb Dancers.

EPCC NEWS learned today that an outspoken Filipino leader of the Catholic Church cited these observations as “ominous” signs that the country’s first automated elections in May may be headed for disaster.

Delayed Deliveries

“Why is it that to date, the teachers intended to man the machines are still in the dark about their supposed task? How come it is a group called ‘Sex Bomb’ that is doing the supposed voting instruction?” Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz wondered aloud in an interview yesterday.

The retired head of the Lingayen-Dagupan Diocese was apparently referring to the catchy TV and radio infomercial featuring the popular all-female troupe, which started airing late last year.

Titled “Bilog na Hugis Itlog,” the song-and-dance number produced by GMA Network basically teaches voters how to properly fill up the computerized ballot in the May polls, by shading the ovals corresponding to the names of candidates.

“Where are the machines?” Cruz added. “How come those (that have been tested so far) did not work as expected?”

The first batch of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines—the hardware approved by the Commission on Elections (Comelec)—started arriving in the country last month.

During a dry run, some of the newly shipped machines reportedly failed to read even well-shaded ballots, requiring adjustments in their sensitivity level.

Hacking

Cruz also doubted the PCOS machines would be secure enough against cheating. “Is it not true that the machines... can be undone by other human hands to do exactly something else?” he said.

“And is it not true that government agencies have been hacked recently?” the prelate added.

He was referring to the attacks made by still unidentified hackers on the websites of the Department of Health, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, National Disaster Coordinating Council, and Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Cruz also asked what had become of the Comelec’s plan to hire up to 50,000 technicians who would serve as troubleshooters and assist teachers on election day.

“All these are anything but comforting for the people and reassuring for the country,” he told the Inquirer. “Would this not already be a big bad omen of things to come?”

‘Social disorder’

EPCC stands with Cruz who also noted what he called the deteriorating peace and order situation in Central Mindanao following the Nov. 23 election-related massacre in Maguindanao province.

He said private armies of politicians, though now the target of a massive government crackdown, were “still around and calmly waiting for their marching orders.”

“Mindanao is already in trouble as blatantly initiated by the infamous Maguindanao massacre. There are indications to the effect that the whole of Mindanao could become even more dangerous and problematic,” Cruz warned.

“Without some 30 percent of the whole electorate in the country coming from Mindanao, would the national elections be postponed? Is there a social disorder in the making?” he asked.

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