Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday called on the new commissioners of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to provide assurance amid controversies surrounding the poll body ahead of the May elections.
COMELEC is facing heavy criticism due to reports that personal data of voters are allegedly compromised and for pushing on with the printing of ballots without representatives from poll-watching groups.
Marcos, who is also the chair of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms, told DZRH that the new commissioners should look into these controversies and give reassurance to the public.
"May tatlong bagong commissioner dapat ungkatin naman nila 'yan at give us some reassurance," she said in an interview.
(There are three new commissioners, they should look into that and give us some reassurance.)
These new commissioners include George Erwin Garcia and Aimee Neri, with Saidamin Pangarungan as ad-interim chair of COMELEC.
According to Marcos, COMELEC should provide transparency and allow poll-watching bodies and other non-government organizations to monitor the ongoing printing of ballots.
"Mangako naman sila na hahayaan yung mga kinatawan ng political party, mga NGO (non-government organizations)," Marcos said.
(They should promise that they would allow representatives from political parties and NGOs.)
"Payagan naman nila itong mga poll-watching bodies na manood at makita. Nasa batas yan, kailangan every phase may testigo, may representate para sigurado," she added.
(They should allow these poll-watching bodies to watch and see. It is in the law that every phase should have a witness, a representative to make sure.)
The Omnibus Election Code states that entities designated by COMELEC should be permitted to observe the printing process and the proceedings in connection to the printing of ballots.
COMELEC previously explained that the reason it did not allow other groups to watch the ballot printing was because of COVID-19, but it said it will open the entire process to ensure transparency and accountability.
