The Aksyon Demokratiko party has written a letter to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to urge for the full implementation of digital signatureS in the upcoming May polls.
This after the poll body had allowed only the National Capital Region (NCR), Cebu City, and Davao City to use the digital signature.
“We should neither limit the digital signing of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) to the National Capital Region, Cebu City and Davao City, nor just simply expand the distribution of iButtons to other regions and provinces," Aksyon Demokratiko Chairman Ernesto Ramel Jr. said in a letter addressed to the Comelec En Banc dated March 10.
In February, the Comelec En Banc approved the use of iButtons for digital signature in the NCR, Cebu, and Davao following failure of several bidding procedures.
The Comelec Advisory Council (CAC) later recommended the Comelec to expand the area of distribution of IButtons for digital signatures to include other regions and provinces “to help prevent election-related anomalies and for teachers to familiarize themselves on the use of such technology for future elections.” Ramel pointed out that provisions of the Omnibus Election Code as revised by Republic Act No. 9365 should be followed, where the Board of Election Inspectors and the Board of Canvassers are required to digitally sign and electronically transmit the Election Return and Certificate of Canvass, respectively.
“To reiterate, we, at Aksyon, most respectfully hope for the Comelec En Banc to reconsider its decision to fully implement the use of digital signatures for the BEIs and BOCs in relation to the May 2022 NLE,” Ramel said