Will heads roll in Smartmatic’s protocol breach in script tweak?
Commission on Elections Chair Andres Bautista enters his computer passcode for the canvassing of votes for the senatorial and party-list elections at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE/INQUIRER
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has said it will investigate the breach of protocol committed by election technology provider Smartmatic when it effected change in the transparency script during Election Day.
In a press conference, Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim said Smartmatic admitted that they had broken protocols to change the character “?” to “ñ” in some of the candidate’s names.
Lim said he should have been informed first before Smartmatic’s Marlon Garcia changed the transparency script.
“Inaamin ng Smartmatic na may pagkukulang sila. I should have been informed that they wanted this change,” Lim said.
He said Smartmatic changed the script before informing the parties present. Protocol dictates that parties should be informed first before any change in the script could be made.
Article continues after this advertisement“In fact before effecting the change, they should have also announced it to the parties there that they will effect the change. There were lapses in protocol … The change was made [first] and the parties were informed after the change was made,” the commissioner said.
Article continues after this advertisementAsked if the Comelec will make Smartmatic accountable for its breach of protocol, Chair Andres Bautista said: “We will look into that.”
In the same press conference, Bautista reiterated that the “cosmetic change” effected would not affect the results, the counting or the canvassing of the votes.
The tweak in the transparency server has been claimed by the camp of vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as proof that the senator is being cheated to favor front-runner Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo.
Robredo and Marcos are currently in a neck and neck race for the vice presidency with the administration candidate leading by 210,000 votes. RC
