Pimentel bats for new automated poll system

BULAKAN, Bulacan — Sen.Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III batted for a new automated election system for 2013 noting that hackers may have studied the 2010 method.

“I want a new automated election system, but not exactly the one using the PCOS,” he said referring to the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines used last year.

Pimentel III served as guest speaker in the 161st birthday celebration of the great propagandist Gat Marcelo H. Del Pilar here today.

He said is possible that hackers and people who want to cheat in the next elections may have studied the entire system.

“It is possible that they have studied the program used including the system and the way election statements are being transmitted,” said Pimentel III, the son of his namesake, the former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr.,

When asked for alternative system to be used in the 2013 automated elections, the young Pimentel said it is for the Commission on Elections to determine.

He also reminded the Comelec to maintain safety features in the new automated election system to be adapted 2013 to secure the sanctity of the ballots, citing that the poll body disabled some of the safety features of the PCOS machines.

As a victim of electoral fraud in the 2007 manual elections, the young Pimentel vowed to work for further electoral reforms in the country.

Pimentel III placed 12th in the 2010 elections but was only proclaimed as winner after Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri resigned from his post.

Pimentel III was sworn in to office last August 11.