Press statements of Senator Loren Legarda

On Comelec rejecting hacking prize

The Commission on Election (Comelec) was correct in rejecting a proposal to reward with P100 million anyone who can hack the automated polling system to be used in the 2010 elections.

It is enough for the Comelec to hire technology experts and beta testers to try to ferret out the weaknesses of the computerized poll system, if any, so measures can be undertaken by the system vendor to correct them.

I propose that the system providers of the automated poll technologies to be used be mandated to deposit cash bonds that can be used to go back to the manual system of voting in case of system failures in the automated polls.

On treating amendments as mere bills

The Constitution prescribes the manner by which its provisions may be amended. Shortcuts must not be resorted to by the House of Representatives in trying to ram amendments to the organic law of the land.

I maintain that amending the Constitution can wait until after next year's election, especially since the present charter change initiative is seen by the people as a poorly-disguised scheme to extend the term of the administration.