Comelec to hear GMA appeal for direct access to real-time poll results Thursday

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will hear on Thursday the appeal of GMA Network Inc. regarding the privilege of having direct access to real-time results in the coming May 13 elections. In an interview with reporters Wednesday, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said the Comelec en banc will take up the motion for reconsideration submitted by GMA regarding the body's resolution giving the privilege to Rappler, a news website. He noted that the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by the poll body with Rappler on Wednesday morning is not yet final and subject to further modifications. “Whatever is contained now in the MOA can always be amended,” Brillantes said. “It is not final. Right now, meron nang existing resolution giving it to Rappler, but then the letter of GMA came in yesterday so ang usapan namin we will study all of this and come out with something by Thursday.” Brillantes said he had asked all the commissioners to individually study the details of the resolution for the hearing. He said after their hearing, “we should be able to come out with a resolution either amending, modifying, revising or whatever we can agree on” and settle the matter with finality. — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News