Senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares of Makabayan Coalition during a political rally in Davao City (Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
Updated as of May 2, 2015, 1:05 pm
DAVAO CITY – Senatorial candidate Rep. Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna partylist has urged voters to guard their votes fearing electoral fraud.
“We are guarding the PCOS machine because in my own opinion, Mar Roxas has no chance, and the only chance is you know,” Colmenares told Davao Today during his political rally held at the Davao City Recreation Center here, Thursday, April 28.
“That is why you need to guard the PCOS machine because that is the only vulnerability of candidates other than the administration candidate,” he said.
For this year’s election, PCOS machines are replaced with vote-counting machines or VCM, which are updated models of the PCOS.
Vote early
Colmenares encouraged voters to go to the voting precincts early to be able to guard the conduct of the elections.
“If you have complaints, we encourage you to file a complaint,” he said.
He also said voters may volunteer at electoral watchdog.
“We need to guard our votes on May 9. I still do not trust the PCOS machines,” he said.
Comelec data breach
Recently, poll watchdog Kontra Daya warned that the breach in the Commission on Elections data system might have implications to voters’ privacy and security.
Rick Bahague, convener of Kontra Daya said the exposed voter information can be used as an added tool to commit electoral fraud. “It now serves as a data source for targeted intimidation of voters, vote buying, and harassment,” he said in a previous statement.
On March 27 this year, the Comelec website was defaced and the information of 55 million voters contained in its database was hacked by groups calling themselves Anonymous Philippines and LulzSec PIlipinas, respectively. The voters’ data were made searchable for anyone online.
Bayan Muna Partylist filed House Resolution No. 2694 which directs the committees on suffrage and electoral reforms and human rights to conduct a joint investigation, in aid of legislation on the leaked voters information. (davaotoday.com)
