Smartmatic execs ready to face probe

Smartmatic Project Director and General Manager Elie Moreno listens as Project Manager Marlon Garcia explains how they change the script during press conference in Commission on Election Headquarters,Philippine International Conventionn Center, Pasay City. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

OFFICIALS of poll technology provider Smartmatic on Tuesday said it was staying put in the country to face any probe of the supposedly unsanctioned change in the data packet for a transparency server that fueled suspicions of fraud in the tally of votes, especially for the tight vice presidential race.

Smartmatic spokesperson Karen Jimeno said officials of the Venezuelan firm respected the move by Commissioner Rowena Guanzon of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to seek a hold-departure memorandum against Smartmatic executives but noted that such order was unnecessary.

“They intend to fully cooperate with whatever investigation that the Comelec or any political party calls for. They have no intention of leaving the country. So, it’s really unnecessary to [issue a memo],” Jimeno said in an interview with reporters.

On Friday, Guanzon berated Smartmatic for breaching protocol, saying its actions, which had no consent from the Comelec en banc, warranted a formal investigation.

She also formally asked the full commission to prevent officials of the firm from leaving the country pending an investigation.

“Smartmatic is willing to participate and cooperate in whatever investigation and whatever is necessary. What’s really important here is transparency and credibility of elections,” Jimeno said.

Typographical error

But she said that before anyone could allege a breach of protocol, it must be determined whether there was a protocol for making a minor correction like changing a typographical error.

“I think what’s important here is first, to look at whether there was a protocol for a minor change like the correction of a typographical error and what the protocol is. Where is it contained and to determine if there is a breach and what the penalties are,” Jimeno said.

Smartmatic project manager Marlon Garcia, who was responsible for the adjustment, earlier explained that the new script merely substituted the “?” that appeared in the names of certain candidates with “Ñ.”

He said that a file system in English could not recognize or understand what the Spanish special character meant.

Garcia also said the minor adjustment caused the hash code to change but stressed that this was separate from the hash codes of the vote-counting machine, the automated election system and other applications.

“Before we make accusations, we look at the facts. First, there would have not been a change if not for also a member of the Comelec putting in the password,” said Jimeno, the head of Smartmatic voters’ education committee.

Probe set

“On the day the typographical error was corrected, a Comelec information technology department officer was also present and, in fact, it was the Comelec officer who typed in the password in order for Smartmatic to make the change,” she added.

In a separate interview, Guanzon on Tuesday said the formal investigation would begin early next week.

“It should start after the proclamation [of senators and party-list groups]. Let us just give the directors a few days to rest before they start with the investigation,” she said.

She said the investigating committee was looking to wrap up the probe in 15 days “for speedy administration of justice.”

On Tuesday, Guanzon reprimanded Garcia for an “unauthorized” change in the transparency server during an encounter at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City where the canvassing of votes for senators and party-list races is being held.

“While I was in d dining room, Smartmatic’s Garcia approached to get water 2 feet away from me. Told him stay away he is under investigation,” Guanzon posted on her official Twitter account.

Garcia supposedly entered the commissioners’ dining area to get a glass of water, prompting Guanzon to confront him.

Guanzon said the Smartmatic executive was not supposed to be in the area because he was being investigated for effecting the “cosmetic” change in the transparency server.

No-contact policy

“I’m surprised that he could still loiter in the commissioners’ hallway and dining room. On the day that we ordered the investigation, we have already told Smartmatic not to go to the commissioners’ hallways because they are not invited in that area. You know, we talk about things there that we don’t want other people to know,” Guanzon told reporters in a chance interview.

“So, I was really surprised when Marlon Garcia entered the room while I was talking to a lawyer. I asked him ‘What are you doing here? You stay away from me. You’re under investigation.’ He was probably shocked, too, because he was just getting a glass. He probably meant to say that he was just going to get water,” she added.

Guanzon said Smartmatic officials and employees should observe the “no-contact policy” with poll commissioners pending the result of the investigation on the tweaked script.

Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim earlier issued an order prohibiting Smartmatic from accessing the consolidation and canvassing system being used by the NBOC (national board of canvassers) at the PICC.