Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Commission on Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Wednesday said critics who want a nationwide manual recount of the midterm elections results should be ready for the costs.
Brillantes said the Comelec was ready to conduct a manual recount nationwide but this would cost around P200 million.
“That’s okay as long as they pay. As long as they make a deposit, that is okay with me,” Brillantes said in an interview.
He noted that Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II paid around P153 million when he filed a election protest contesting the results of the 2010 vice-presidential race, which Roxas lost to Jejomar Binay.
“For (the 2013 elections), in might be a bit more expensive … around P200 million. As long as they make a payment, we will have everything opened,” Brillantes said.
“Of course, they should shoulder it. They’re the ones who want the (ballot boxes) opened,” he added.
The group Tanggulang Demokrasya earlier called for a full-recount of the May 2013 mid-term elections, claiming there was massive cheating as shown by the alleged “60-30-10” pattern in the results.
Brillantes said Comelec critics claiming that the “60-30-10” pattern showed there was massive cheating should come out with evidence to support their claim.
“They should come out with it. We will call them if they have a (sworn) statement. If they can’t prove it, then they will also have to answer for their claims,” he said.
Brillantes also denied allegations that the precinct count optical scan machines were “pre-programmed” to favor administration candidates.
“If they say it was pre-programmed by others, then they should come here to us. If they say we pre-programmed it, then they should look for others who can receive their complaint. If they want to go to the United Nations … then it’s okay,” he said.