Comelec’s Garcia flags delaying ‘tactics’ of unseated local execs

Commission on Elections logo superimposed on the picture of its headquarters in Manila. INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Some local politicians unseated from their incumbency in the May 9 polls are finding ways to “delay” the proclamation in their respective localities, a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official said.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said Wednesday that they are targeting to make senatorial and party-list proclamations within the week at the earliest.

Asked what could hinder the poll body from meeting this target, Garcia pointed to delays supposedly caused by losing incumbent local officials.

“In such areas na hanggang ngayon hindi pa tapos ang canvass, bakit? Monitor niyo may hindi pa tapos ang canvass ng mga provincial, medyo may mga ilang politikong lokal na dine-delay ang canvass, lalo na yung—pasensya na—lalo na yung mga incumbent na na-unseat tapos gumagawa naman ng ibang paraan para lang hindi magkaroon ng proclamation,” Garcia said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

“Kasama sa strategy yun e,” he added. “So what will hinder? Perhaps only certain local problems, especially local politics.”

This, according to Garcia, would end up slowing down canvassing at the national level. Comelec is tasked to canvassed votes cast across the country for the senatorial and party-list races.

“Take note, ‘pag walang proclamation ang isang probinsya, at least sa provincial board, walang mapapadala sa Comelec, dito sa atin,” Garcia went on.

“Dati kasi nung manual kasi yung eleksyon natin, pwede nating ipa-separate yung national, sa canvass ng local e. Pwede nating gawin yun, ngayon kasi, how do you that when you have a computerized election,” he added.

As of Wednesday morning, 835 cities and municipalities have made proclamations, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said, citing the transparency server jointly manned by the poll body and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

Another scenario Garcia cited is problems that would affect the transmission of certificates of canvass from Philippine foreign posts.

“Katulad diyan mamaya, may maririnig kayo diyan na may ambassador na nandito dala dala niya yung SD card ng CCS (consolidation and canvassing system) kasi hindi nakapag-transmit dahil mahina yung transmission dun sa kanyang area, sa jurisdiction,” Garcia said.

“So, the SD card or the CCS, will have to be unloaded here sa CCS natin dito. So madidinig niyo, yung mga ganun, they will have to bring in, not only the COC, but they will have to bring in the SD card,” he added.

There are over 90 Philippine diplomatic posts abroad where Filipinos cast their votes for the 2022 elections.

JPV