Otso Diretso wants explanation for delays, glitches

The camp of the Otso Diretso slate is demanding explanation from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the glitches that bogged the conduct of Monday's elections and the canvassing of votes.

At a press conference in Quezon City, Liberal Party president and Otso Diretso campaign manager Senator Francis Pangilinan enumerated the various election concerns that they want the Comelec to shed light on.

"Halimbawa yung pitong oras na hindi lumabas ang resulta sa transparency server, never naman nangyari ito. Pagkatapos pagdating ng madaling araw, 90 plus percent na, wala na lahat yung Otso Diretso. That by itself needs an explanation. How did that happen?" he said.

"And quite unfortunate, lima hanggang anim na oras habang hindi nata-transmit ang mga resulta, walang paliwanag ang Comelec, hindi lumabas, hindi nagsasalita. Para bagang walang problema. So these are concerns that need to be clarified," he added.

Pangilinan pointed out that in a tight race, particularly on the 12th, 13th and 14th spots, a transparent transmission of election returns is crucial. The 14th spot is held currently by Otso Diretso candidate Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV.

"Itong mga ganitong kakaibang pangyayari ay malaking katanungan na dapat magkaroon ng paliwanag," he said.

Meanwhile, Otso Diretso spokesperson lawyer Barry Gutierrez lamented the malfunctioning of hundreds of vote counting machines during the election day itself, as well as reports from people on the ground saying that they had to leave their ballots in polling precincts and let election personnel to insert them in the machines.

There were also reports that 14 out of the 18 SD card in Tarlac, the bailiwick of Aquino had malfunctioned, Gutierrez said. 

"Obviously that's a huge source of concern. We're talking about 500,000 voters potentially affected. And if the gap between number 14 where Senator Aquino is right now and number 12 is something like 300,000 votes, that's obviously going to matter," he said.

"We're not saying na may deliberate conspiracy dito na ginagawa, but what we're saying is merong mga tanong na kailangang sagutin ang Commission on Elections. And right now, the explanations that they have given have not fully addressed yung mga concern," he added.

Comelec earlier explained that the delay in the transmission of the election returns in its transparency server was caused by a technical issue.

Pangilinan has urged the public to be vigilant until the counting of votes is finished.

"Baka sakaling sa nasabing nalalabing pitong porsyento ay maipanalo pa ng isa o dalawa nating mga kandidato ang kanilang kandidatura. Mananatili tayong mapagbantay hanggang sa dulo," he said.

Otso Diretso candidates Erin Tañada, Samira Gutoc, Florin Hilbay and Romulo Macalintal have already accepted defeat in the senatorial race.

However, the slate is still hoping that Aquino and senatorial candidate Mar Roxas would make it to the winners' circle. —NB, GMA News