Two congress members of the progressive Party List groups Bayan Muna and Gabriela have expressed fears the automated elections next year will not be successful but that "miracles" will still happen despite the development.
Congressman Satur Ocampo said even with the advancement of technology in the voting process in the country, there is no guarantee that the Smartmatic-TIM voting machines used by the Comelec are impenetrable.
"Walang guarantee ang automated machines na mawawala yong cheating as experts say that pwede pa rin [ma-hack]. The programs in the machines can be used to the advantage of those who want to win," Ocampo said.
He explained that aside from the technical factor, the existing bureaucracy inside Comelec "cannot be trusted" especially with the scandals rocking the poll body in the past elections like the "Hello Garci" controversy and the rampant vote buying and dishonest cheatings that favor moneyed politicians.
"Nandiyan pa rin yong mga identified na ibat-ibang pamamaraan sa pandadaya. Kung nandiyan pa rin yan mahirap ipagkatiwala sa Comelec sa pamamagitan ng automated system na ma-prevent yong cheating. The Comelec needs overhaul. Then we can say that we will have clean elections," Ocampo said.
As for Maza, she said that poll cheating has already been ingrained in the minds of Filipinos that such a deceitful act "has become a tradition in Philippine politics."
However, both lawmakers, who visited Pagadian last week, expressed that the counterforce of cheating is the vigilance of the people.
At the end of their meeting with the media, Ocampo clarified his and Maza's stand: "Sinuportahan namin ang automate election but we have reservations."
For her part, City Comelec Officer Dinah Sapong assured that with the automated machines, cheating will be a thing of the past.
She asserted that the fear of data being hacked is impossible "since no cables will be attached" to the machines during the whole day voting period, meaning, there will be no outside interference while ballot vote takes place.
She added that by now, the Comelec has instituted safety measures against hacking and that continuity plans are being applied, including an audit log on transmitted results to secure that their will be no tampering of ballots or devious cheating.
MICHAEL MEDINA
BLOG: www.micmedina.tk
EMAIL: 130903@gmail.com
CONTACT: +639185304257
"Qui vult decipi decipiatur"
(If a man wants to be deceived, let him be deceived)
Congressman Satur Ocampo said even with the advancement of technology in the voting process in the country, there is no guarantee that the Smartmatic-TIM voting machines used by the Comelec are impenetrable.
"Walang guarantee ang automated machines na mawawala yong cheating as experts say that pwede pa rin [ma-hack]. The programs in the machines can be used to the advantage of those who want to win," Ocampo said.
He explained that aside from the technical factor, the existing bureaucracy inside Comelec "cannot be trusted" especially with the scandals rocking the poll body in the past elections like the "Hello Garci" controversy and the rampant vote buying and dishonest cheatings that favor moneyed politicians.
"Nandiyan pa rin yong mga identified na ibat-ibang pamamaraan sa pandadaya. Kung nandiyan pa rin yan mahirap ipagkatiwala sa Comelec sa pamamagitan ng automated system na ma-prevent yong cheating. The Comelec needs overhaul. Then we can say that we will have clean elections," Ocampo said.
As for Maza, she said that poll cheating has already been ingrained in the minds of Filipinos that such a deceitful act "has become a tradition in Philippine politics."
However, both lawmakers, who visited Pagadian last week, expressed that the counterforce of cheating is the vigilance of the people.
At the end of their meeting with the media, Ocampo clarified his and Maza's stand: "Sinuportahan namin ang automate election but we have reservations."
For her part, City Comelec Officer Dinah Sapong assured that with the automated machines, cheating will be a thing of the past.
She asserted that the fear of data being hacked is impossible "since no cables will be attached" to the machines during the whole day voting period, meaning, there will be no outside interference while ballot vote takes place.
She added that by now, the Comelec has instituted safety measures against hacking and that continuity plans are being applied, including an audit log on transmitted results to secure that their will be no tampering of ballots or devious cheating.
MICHAEL MEDINA
BLOG: www.micmedina.tk
EMAIL: 130903@gmail.com
CONTACT: +639185304257
"Qui vult decipi decipiatur"
(If a man wants to be deceived, let him be deceived)