Comelec Assures No Failure of Elections in Bikol

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 16 -- The Commission on Election (Comelec) in Bikol assured the public that no failure of election will happen during the May polls as alternative measures are in place in case the automated computer machines fail.

Lawyer Zacarias Zaragoza, Comelec regional director, said he is confident that there would be no failure of election in Bikol.

"The critics of the automated polls are entitled to their opinions. This is a free country but for us in the Comelec we don't expect a failure of elections. But in the event of the failure of the automated machines, the Comelec would return to the manual procedure," he said.

Zaragoza said the poll body will try to prevent the failure of elections.

He further said that they are holding public information campaign on the first automated election in the country as well as the training of public school teachers' assigned members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI).

He said Bikol has 2,828,622 total number of registered voters.

He said with the start of the 90-day campaign period for national candidates, from Feb. 9 to May 8, 2010, the commission will see to it that all election laws are carried out, specifically the posting of election campaign posters in designated common poster areas.

"We will be removing these campaign paraphernalias in places except those designated by the commission," he said.

He also reiterated that the Comelec will strictly enforce during the election period from Jan. 10-June 9, 2010, the total gun ban.

Other prohibited acts during the campaign period include: giving of donations, gifts, cash or in kind; use of armored land craft, water craft or air craft.

Also during the same period, the appointment or hiring of new employees, creation or filling up of new positions, promotion or giving salary increases, remuneration or privilege; construction of public works projects, delivery of materials for public works and insurance of treasury warrants are prohibited. (PNA)