Poll problems, preparedness discussed in NSC meeting

A no-election or failure of election scenario is a remote possibility on May 10, poll officials assured during Tuesday’s meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) in Malacañang. “The Commission on Elections . . . after a lot of discussion gave the NSC an assurance that the elections will be held successfully," Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said at a press briefing after the meeting. The May polls will be the first ever nationwide computerized election in the country’s history. Remonde said Comelec officials identified several problems and concerns during the meeting, but guaranteed that these would not derail the political exercise. Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III said two scenarios were presented during the meeting: a large-scale failure of election and an isolated failure of election involving barangays (villages) or precincts where there is no electricity. “But he [Comelec chairman Jose Melo] is definitely saying that there is no way that a failure of election will occur," Bello said. The meeting, presided by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, tackled a variety of election-related concerns, including computer hacking and permit-to-campaign tax being solicited by communist rebels from candidates especially at the local level.

Hacking Remonde said Comelec officials assured that the system that will be used in the elections is safe from hackers. The issue of hacking has become primary concern after five government Web sites were defaced by hackers in the last three weeks. Remonde said Melo told the council that, unlike the Internet site of system provider Smartmatic, the hacked government Web sites are public portals that are easily accessible to public. “So mas malayo daw ang posibilidad na ma-hack iyung Smartmatic (They said it is far-fetched that the Smartmatic Web site would be hacked)," he said. Permit-to-campaign tax Bello said another concern raised in the meeting was the reported collection of permit-to campaign-tax by the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri told those present in the meeting that one mayoralty candidate was asked by the NPA to pay P500,000 so that he could campaign without harassment. Remonde said President Arroyo ordered the concerned agencies to put a curb on this illegal practice as soon as possible. “Her specific instruction was for the Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary and the Department of National Defense Secretary to work with the Comelec to ensure that this will be attended to," he said. Bello said the President also wants the police and the military to ensure that politicians in the NPA-infested areas are provided with “enough and “sufficient security" to ensure their safety. Among those who attended the meeting were former president Joseph Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Aquilino Pimentel Jr., and members of the House of Representatives. In was the first NSC meeting in five years. - KBK, GMANews.TV