MANILA, Philippines – What is a citizens’ arm supposed to do?

Facing criticism from the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), poll chief Sixto Brillantes Jr said this much is clear: the arm should not punch the poll body.

Brillantes on Friday, April 25, criticized Namfrel for releasing a statement on malfunctioning ballot-counting machines. Namfrel referred to incidents from as far back as two months ago, during the mock polls organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) last February 2. (Read: ‘Smooth’ mock polls suffer poor turnout.)

In a two-page letter to Brillantes, Namfrel said problems involving precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines will pose problems on election day, May 13. The watchdog packaged the letter to Brillantes as a statement sent to the media on Thursday, April 24.

“I think it is definitely unacceptable to us for a citizens’ arm to be coming up with such kind of a press release,” Brillantes said in an interview with reporters on Friday. “Why are they coming out now that the elections is drawing very close?”

Warning to Namfrel

The Comelec chair aired a warning to Namfrel: “We also have the same authority to cancel their accreditation if you think you cannot function as a citizens’ arm, and you would rather act as a (critic) or a detractor of Comelec. You should get out as a citizens’ arm.”

But isn’t a watchdog supposed to question the Comelec, from time to time, for checks and balances? Does Brillantes expect Namfrel to side with Comelec all the time?

When asked this question, Brillantes replied: “Tama ‘yon.” (That’s right)

He said, however, Namfrel should engage Comelec in constructive criticism – “in the sense that you can express your concerns, but not publicly.”

“Kaya ka nga citizens’ arm, kamay ka ng Comelec,” Brillantes added. “Isusuntok mo ba ang sarili mo?” (That’s why you’re a citizens’ arm. You’re the arm of the Comelec. Will you punch yourself?)

 (Watch more in the video below.)

Namfrel’s concerns

In the first place, however, how has Brillantes responded to Namfrel’s concerns?

The Comelec chairman said he has engaged Namfrel in a discussion, but not yet in a “point by point” refutation of Namfrel’s issues. He assured the public: “Definitely the PCOS is very, very reliable.”

He added that the mock elections last February 2 “was for our own assessment of the actual condition.” “Nakakita kami ng mga konting mali, kinorrect na namin lahat ‘yan. Kaya nga we did the mock elections months before,” he explained. (We saw a few glitches and we corrected them all. That’s why we did the mock elections months before.)

In its letter to Brillantes, Namfrel cited problems last February 2, such as the following: 

• One-hour delay in initializing the PCOS machine in Baseco Tondo

• PCOS malfunctions in areas like the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS), Quezon City and Bato, Camarines Sur

• Delays in transmission in areas like Cagayan de Oro Central School, UPIS, and Camarines Sur

• Failure of transmission in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; Dumaguete, Iriga City; and Bato, Camarines Sur

One of the key leaders of Namfrel is former Comelec commissioner and IT expert Gus Lagman. – Rappler.com