Philippines to delay presidential polls

Only six days before the Philippines' first automated election, officials say the presidential poll is likely to be postponed due to glitches in the counting machines.

Faulty memory cards used in the vote-counting machines prompted the Philippines election commission to delay the poll in order to eliminate the risk of fraud and violence.

The glitches were found after the country's Commission on Elections conducted the final testing of the devices on Monday and recalled all compact flash cards for reconfiguration, Commission's Spokesman James Jimenez explained.

The Southeast Asian state is notorious for fraud after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo allegedly rigged the 2004 presidential election in her favor.

"Postponement of election is the only remedy to prevent a failure of election," President Arroyo's election lawyer said Monday.

Meanwhile, Margaux Salcedo spokesman for former President Joseph Estrada -- who is seeking to run as president -- ridiculed the issue, saying "It's ironic that poll automation, which is supposed to secure the sanctity of the ballot, is now the very threat to the process."

The Philippines is holding its first computerized election, as earlier in 2005, audio recordings of a phone conversation between President Arroyo and then Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano were released to the public. The conversation allegedly contained discussions about rigging the 2004 national election results.

The crisis escalated when the minority of the Lower House of Congress called for Arroyo's impeachment. Their attempt, however, was blocked by the president's coalition in September 2005. No trial has so far been held over the issue.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=125507§ionid=351020406.