Press Release
March 10, 2009

'Hybrid' poll a waste of taxpayers' money -- Loren

Senator Loren Legarda brushed aside yesterday as an "utter waste of taxpayers' money" the additional P2 billion that would be needed to set in motion a proposal emanating from the House of Representatives for the holding of a "hybrid election" next year.

By hybrid, its proponents wanted the 2010 national elections for president, vice president and senators to be automated while the local elections for congressmen and local government officials to be manual.

Loren said that the P2 billion that would be needed for a hybrid poll would be on top of the P11.3 billion which both house of Congress approved for the automation of the counting of votes for next year's polls.

"It's absurd to be spending more for the "hybrid election" system. Let me emphasize, though, that the automated system should be guarded every step of the way as it is not fraud proof," said Loren.

On top of ensuring the credibility and track record of the winning bidder for the automated poll system to be used, Loren said that local computer experts, including the so-called beta testers, must be asked to have a hand in testing the system to be used for vulnerabilities.

Beta-testers are employed by the computer industry, including those who develop computer software and games, to ferret out a program or a system's weaknesses, faulty programming, areas of improvement and vulnerability to computer viruses and hacking.

"We must be assured that the poll system is not hackable because as I've said in explaining my vote for the computerization budget, I was a victim of massive cheating in 2004 and I know how creative and quick to adapt election cheats are," she said.

She said that fraud victimizing her was discovered every step of the way - detailed by a paper trail from the election returns, to the statement of votes and the municipal and provincial certificates of canvass.

Loren said that it is of little value the concern about where local government official selected are to be proclaimed, whether at the Comelec office in Manila or in the areas of their constituents.

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