PPCRV uncovers apparent fraud in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Electronic fraud might have actually been committed during the elections in Basilan, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in the province said.

Father Santiago Agoo, chairman of PPCRV Basilan, said he and PPCRV volunteer and Lente lawyer Gilbert Sembrano have documented the case.

He said that at around 10 a.m. on May 11, PPCRV volunteers and Smartmatic technicians discovered that at least 20 boxes containing precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines had transmission receipts attached to them.

There were a total of 78 PCOS machines for Isabela City alone. Isabela City has 56,798 registered voters but only 37,171 cast their votes.

Agoo said the 20 machines served an average of 15,000 to 20,000 voters based on a PPCRV count.

“Each receipt indicated full transmission report when in reality, there was no transmission at all because the server in Basilan was shut down following reports by the [municipal board of canvassers] of failure of transmission,” Agoo said.

He said he and Sembrano took down some details of the receipts, which were all dated March 10, 2010.

Agoo said the receipts indicated the following: “Transmission Report – Election reports successfully transmitted to: MBOC 701000; Election reports successfully transmitted to: Central Server; and Election reports successfully transmitted to: KBP Parties Citizen, Wed March 10 12:32:09 2010.”

He said similar receipts were also found attached to the box of PCOS #701050 of Calvario Elementary School, PCOS #701002 of Barangay Marketsite and PCOS #701075 of Small Kapatagan, Isabela City.

“This is worrisome and very disturbing because around 20 PCOS had the same receipts attached,” he said.

Agoo said they called the attention of provincial election supervisor Roberto dela Peña “but no action was done.”

“This matter was even brought before the chair of the City Board of Canvassers, Jehan Marohombsar, during the recess of the canvassing period on May 11 but still, nothing has been done,” Agoo said.

He said the forwarders attested that no receipts were attached to the boxes during the delivery of the machines.

“We also checked with the technician of the CBOC and their explanation was maybe it was test results. But how can that be? The transmission was dated March 10. This is a serious discrepancy,” Agoo said.

Aside from the questioned transmission receipts, Agoo also said they documented traditional election irregularities such as vote-buying.

Source: INQ