No decision yet on fate of PCOS–Comelec

Precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machine. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections on Tuesday clarified that it has not yet decided whether or not to replace the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines for the 2016 polls.

Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. issued the clarification after Movement Against Graft and Abuse of Power (Magap) assailed the Comelec for its supposed decision to ditch the voting machines used in the 2010 and 2013 polls.

The Comelec bought the 80,000 PCOS units for P1.8 billion from Smartmatic International in 2012.

Brillantes stressed that the commission en banc is still in the process of deliberation and consultation if there will be a new automated election system (AES) that will be used for the 2016 elections.

“We have yet to decide the technology to be used for the 2016 polls,” said Brillantes in his Twitter account (@ChairBrillantes).

He said “all risks are being carefully considered. But, as of now, all options remain on the table.”

Magap also assailed the alleged plan of the Comelec to buy P60 billion worth of touch screen voting system known as Direct-Recording Electronic (DRE) as alternative to PCOS machines.

But according to Brillantes, the DRE is only one of the options being considered by the Comelec and the Comelec Advisory Council (CAC) for the 2016 polls.