By: Elena Grace Flores
YouTube Video by PH BREAKING NEWS
Senator Sotto Pushes to Ban Smartmatic for 2022.
Hontiveros is Playing with Words
Senator Tito Sotto firmly asks Senator Risa Hontiveros for Comelec’s assurance that Smartmatic is not anymore the provider of the election server. That goes with the digital poll machines too for 2022. He said that the complaints against them are worldwide. In fact, they only exist for fraud, he added. Hontiveros answered that Smartmatic is not anymore in dominion since 2013. However, Sotto is quick to clarify that he intends to ban Smartmatic. He also reminds Hontiveros that Senator Imee Marcos chairs the electoral reforms for 2022. Marcos’ brother, Bongbong Marcos believes that he lost the VP post due to election manipulation of the said company in 2016.
No Philippine Company can Qualify
Hontiveros said that it is not only Smartmatic who qualifies as the supplier for the election automation. But Senator Marcos disputes this because of the two conditions. First, they must be big enough worldwide. Second, they must have at least 2 times experience in the Philippines. Certainly, no Philippine company can satisfy those requirements. Hontiveros then agrees that there’s no Filipino company that can comply to the current guidelines.
Around 65 Million Voters for 2022
Around 65 million voters is the estimate for the 2022 elections. This must be lengthy to facilitate with the manual counting. Therefore, a hybrid election system is ideal. The manual and digital proceedings must merge to discourage fraud. But not to jeopardize the election results as well.
