Namfrel won't boycott Comelec

AMID the various reactions to National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) recent move to return to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) its citizens arm accreditation given to them, NAMFREL assured the public that there is no boycott move by NAMFREL versus COMELEC.
In a media forum held at Manila Hotel today, NAMFREL Chairman Augusto “Gus” Lagman vehemently denied that NAMFREL is boycotting COMELEC. “If COMELEC will agree to our request for certain election data access that we need to perform our work efficiently then we are still open to working with COMELEC on the Random Manual Audit (RMA) which is the main task given to us by the COMELEC en banc resolution,”. Lagman said.

“We have presented to COMELEC our proposed Open Election Data Program which we truly believe can greatly help COMELEC in protecting the sanctity of this year’s mid term elections so that a clean, transparent and credible election may be achieved. We do not see anything wrong or detrimental to COMELEC’s interest in our request. All is towards the pursuit of transparency which will add to the credibility of our May 13, 2019 elections,” Lagman added.

In the 1986 snap elections some volunteers of NAMFREL who were involved in monitoring the historic snap elections figured in the now infamous PICC computer center walkout that triggered the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

In the same forum, MATA SA BALOTA spokesman Dr. Michael Aragon warned that certain irresponsible talks of anarchy or civil war due to a possible failure of elections scenario has been loosely spread out most especially in the south.

“We condemn these loose talks on possible failure of elections or even a civil war that might emanate from issues involving the credibility of our upcoming elections this Monday. We believe this is far from the truth and will not happen so we appeal to our people to rally behind the righteous intentions of COMELEC for clean elections. We might not have a perfect COMELEC but it’s the only one we got to do the job so as patriots and nationalistic citizens of the Philippines lets help our COMELEC do its work towards a credible and peaceful mid term elections,”.  Aragon said.

Also in the same forum, NAMFREL’s national treasurer and information technology head Lito Averia requested COMELEC to pursue transparency in the conduct of Monday’s elections. “We are appealing to COMELEC to uphold the principle of transparency in the mid term elections this Monday because this will add credibility to our country’s election process,” Averia appealed.