Delivery text alert interrupts Senate hearing of Comelec budget

Screengrab from Senate Youtube livestream

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate’s hearing of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) budget on Friday was unexpectedly interrupted by a delivery text alert.

Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas was presenting the poll body’s proposed 2022 budget to the Senate finance subcommittee through a shared phone screen that belonged to one of the bureau directors of the poll body.

As Abas was presenting the budget proposal, a text message appeared on the screen alerting the receiver about the delivery of an item that had been ordered.

“Sumisingit ata yung text messages [I think the text messages are popping up],” said Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the subcommittee.

Senator Francis Pangilinan then quipped: “Delivery ata ng tanghalian ‘yan [Perhaps that is for a  lunch delivery].”

Abas then instructed the bureau director to immediately fix the presentation.

Eventually, the Comelec chair was able to proceed with the poll body’s budget proposal as well as its prepared timeline for the 2022 elections.

The Comelec is proposing a P26.-7 billion budget for next year.

/MUF