Makabayan bloc to ‘seriously push’ for hybrid-manual voting in next elections

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate on Saturday said the Makabayan bloc will be “seriously pushing” for hybrid elections in the next polls once 18th Congress opens. Katrina Hallare/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Opposition party-list Bayan Muna on Saturday said the Makabayan bloc will “seriously push” for a hybrid manual-automated election system in the next polls.

“Sa 18th Congress, dapat seryosohin sa amin bloc na itutulak at itutulak namin ito dahil nakasalalay dito ang magiging takbo ng mga susunod na halalan,” Zarate said during a media forum in Quezon City.

“Nakita na natin na ang daming problema, matagal na nating nire-raise ‘yan, itong Smartmatic, bakit maraming problema noon siya pa rin ang nakakuha ng kontrata nung election. Kaya lumala ng lumala,” he added.

According to Zarate, under a hybrid manual-automated election system, there will be manual voting and the counting of votes cast will be automated.

Zarate said that one of the priority measures of the Makabayan bloc for the incoming Congress is to review Republic Act 9369 or the Automated Election Law.

When told that results of a hybrid election system will not be released on the same day, Zarate said: “Well, we would rather wait that night, we would rather be here for [a period of time] kaysa yung madaling na-proclaim, di natin sigurado o [questionable] yung kanyang mandate, kung siya nga ba nahalal ng mamamayan.”

Zarate and his fellow opposition lawmakers have previously demanded a thorough investigation on the alleged fraud in the May 13 polls.  (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)

READ: Opposition lawmakers demand probe of alleged electoral fraud