Bautista vows to make 2016 polls most transparent in PHL history

Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista on Wednesday vowed to make the May 2016 polls the most transparent elections in the country’s history.

In his opening statement during the resumption of the hearing of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System at the Senate, Bautista also said that all the safeguards provided in the election laws will be in place for the May polls.

“All the safeguards provided in Republic 8436, as amended in Republic Act 9369 or the Automated Election Laws, will be in place for the 2016 elections and, in fact, even more,” he said.

“We will endeavor to make this 2016 elections as the most transparent elections in Philippine history,” Bautista added.

He added that the recent Supreme Court decision on ballot receipts darted a “curveball in our preparations for the upcoming 2016 elections since the decision happened 60 days before the elections.”

He said that is the past and they are now looking to catch up with their preparations. —KG, GMA News