Comelec: May 10 polls to push through

MANILA, Philippines – In the face of technological foul-ups, the Commission on Elections and the automated polls supplier Smartmatic-TIM on Wednesday gave the assurance to the public that the scheduled May 10 elections will push through.

In a televised press conference, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal and Smartmatic-TIM executive Cesar Flores also enumerated the steps that they were taking to get back on track.
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Flores, whom Senator Francis Escudero wants placed on hold departure order, said he and his fellow Smartmatic-TIM executives were staying put.

“We are committed to pushing through. This is a feasible plan and it is working so far…We are not going anywhere. The people of the Philippines will have…fast elections on May 10,” he said.

Flores said that it planned to process 31,500 flash cards today: 18,000 cards in the Cabuyao warehouse and the 13,500 cards that it would be pulling out from the precincts.

At the same time, Flores said 44,000 cards were expected from Taiwan (14,000) and Hong Kong (30,000) on Thursday.

“This is Plan A, the use of the purchased cards. Plan B is for recycled cards,” he said.

Flores said 75 stations with a processing rate of 40 cards per hour each are in place. This rate means 3,000 cards an hour, or 54,000 cards in 18 hours.

At the same time, testing and sealing of the machines in Makati, Marikina, Paranaque, and Batangas start today.

“We will also resume shipment of machines to precincts starting today. That cannot be stopped,” Flores said.

Everything will be ready by Sunday, he added.

First Posted 13:06:00 05/05/2010
Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net