2010 PHILIPPINES ELECTION

Malacañang asked Smartmatic to just do their best in ensuring the success of automated elections this May, and not make an excuse of the state of emergency in Maguindanao.

The Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Gary Olivar to the claim by Smartmatic/Total Information Management Corp., the consortium tasked to effect the P72-billion poll automation program of the Commission on Elections, that the state of emergency is “delaying its preparation for the automated elections.

We hope this is not being used as an excuse for under-performance. We encourage them to do their best and, if there are problems with peace and order, which the state of emergency is precisely trying to address, they must consult the proper authorities and ask for help.

On the alleged looting and firefight between armed civilian volunteer organizations (CVOs) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Maguindanao and as to what message the administration is getting from this violence.If there are specific activities that hinder the preparation for automated elections, this must be reported to the appropriate authorities.This should be no reason for doing our best to make automated elections a success everywhere in the country.