The House minority bloc will move for the rejection of the 2019 budget of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) if it would not replace Smartmatic as its vote-counting machines (VCMs) provider, House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez and Deputy Minority Leader and Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza warned on Thursday. At a media forum in Quezon City, Suarez and Atienza criticized anew the alleged “lapses” and “irregularities” committed by the election technology firm during the 2016 polls. “On the part of the minority… ‘Pag hindi binago si Smartmatic (If Smartmatic won’t be changed), we’ll move for the rejection of the budget of the Comelec for 2019. Filipino technical men are more prepared than Smartmatic, they can even render better service and definitely more patriotic,” Atienza said. Pressed if a clean election would be ensured once the government gets a new election technology firm, Atienza said: “Walang kasiguruhan (there’s no assurance), we have to really be vigilant all the time.” /mufREAD: House minority leaders back move to probe alleged 2016 poll anomalies

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 14, 2018 04:52 UTC