The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is seeking alternative machines to be used in the May 2016 elections, after the Supreme Court decided to junk its contract to repair the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines. Comelec representative James Jimenez said the poll agency will prepare an alternative plan and not wait for the decision on the motion for reconsideration to be submitted by Smartmatic-Total Information Management (TIM) Corp.
He said, "The possibility of the motion for reconsideration being granted in the future cannot be a basis for the Comelec not to take any action at this time. We need to start our preparations already."
He noted that the Comelec has no time to come up with contingency steps after the Supreme Court junked the P268.8-million deal with Smartmatic.
Jimenez said even if the company said it will file a motion for reconsideration before the court, it would be very risky for the Commission to dilly-dally in executing alternative plans, He added, "The Comelec will be caught flat-footed if the MR is suddenly not granted."
He said, "The possibility of the motion for reconsideration being granted in the future cannot be a basis for the Comelec not to take any action at this time. We need to start our preparations already."
He noted that the Comelec has no time to come up with contingency steps after the Supreme Court junked the P268.8-million deal with Smartmatic.
Jimenez said even if the company said it will file a motion for reconsideration before the court, it would be very risky for the Commission to dilly-dally in executing alternative plans, He added, "The Comelec will be caught flat-footed if the MR is suddenly not granted."