Fartial Transcript of Stenographic Notes Meetirrg of the Commission on Elections Held on April 6, 2O1O

Freseht:
Chairman Jose A. R. Melo Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento Commissioner Nicodemo T. Ferrer Cornrnissioner Lucenito N. Tagle Commissioner Armando C: Velasco Commissioner Elias R. YusoPh

On Official Business:
Commissioner Gregorio Y. Larrazabal XXX
Clrairman Comrn. Comm.
Cgrnnr.

I
XXX

XXX

Melo:

O ngayon, yong ah, we need to have another call for the

secrecy folder. Kailangan pa ba talaga ang secrecy folder? Yan na nga... Baka hindi na kailatrgan Chair.

fagle: Sarmiento: Velasco: l"lelo: Crr-rz: l4elo:

llirrdi yong secrecy of ballot eh, baka ma-kwan din tayo don
eh.
'

Clrainrrarr

llindi, kailangan

yon...

Atty. Dela
Conrm.

Ano na lang, yong tolder na lang,

Palagay ko yorrg dati kasi Sir, sabi mahaba, hindi narnan...
Masl<i yong orditrary

Velasco: Velasco: Ylrsophr t'aqle: Sarrrriettto; \/elasco: Sarrnienlo: Velasco; l'leln: Sarmiertto: Ferper: Sarnrierrto: Velasccr:

Chair rrrarr

folder nalang...
:

Corrrrrr.

Oo, yon na lang arrg gamitin natin Sir eh, ordinaryong folder na larrg Sir eh.

Corrrrrr,
Cr-rrrrrn.

fLrtal isarrg beses lang narnatr.

llittrli, rtrakapal-ltapal...
Oo isarrg heses lattg namarr elr.
Yorrgt

C'ornrn.
Ccrrnrrr.

ginagamit din natin na dati yonq na lang anq qarnitin

na

larrg Sir ett"

Corrrnr"

T-connect yort" Oo i-cottnect na lang yon"

tilasl<i lrindi na, rnaski ito na lang...mas magiging.... Pwecle rin l<ttng...ganung kahaba".

conrrn.

Chairrnan Comm.
Corrrm" Comnr.

Actually rnalrilrirapan ako, it's too long, ginaganyan-ganyan mo

pa...

l(urrg garryan kahaba, ganito eh....pwede na no, st-tsobra ng ganyan, eh hindi na makikita eh..,
Sabagay party-list lang naman ang... .L

Cornrn.

{.,^'\

Chairrnarr

Melo:

Hindi, party-list lang naman ang mahaba eh...

Comm, Comm.

Sarrriento: Velasco: Melo:

Party-list lang rrarnan ang rnahaba eh.

Yong rrational...

Chairman Comm. Comm.

Comrn.

Kung titignan mo oh, nandyan ang president, etc., etc., tapos party-list nrahaba, sa kabila maikli lang...
O mahaba...
Sal<a ang ano dyan sa probinsya, ang concentration lang nyan yong local, local.."

Sarmiento: Yusoph: Velasco: Melo: Velasco: Melo: Melo:

Sabagay yong maliit matatalcpan na yong up to senators eh,

Chairman Comm.

And even sa reverse side, local...

Oo Sir, yong sa local o yong party list lang naman ang hindi matatakpan eh, Party-list lang ang nakakahaba.
Pwede Clrair, pwede na yong dating folder,

Chairman Comm.

Sarmiento:

Cl-rairman

Alam l<ong, ah, yong special na mahabd pd, gagawa pa sila pero if you order ordinary folder, anytime.
Pwede na yong sa bookstore..

Comm.
Comrn.

Ferrer: Sarnriento:

Saka may excess pa rin tayo, nandyan Chair eh, marami pa rin tayo.

Chairrnan Melo: Comnt. Ferrer:

Comnr.

O, ganong karaming excess nating ah...folder, ordinary folder, secrecy folder, dami pa?
l(ailarrg i-i nrbertaryo.

Sar-nriento: Melo:

Irrventory, oo" Pa-ano mo, ipa-inventory mo, pati vong, dahil kung marami dyan, yon rra lano.
Tama nAman, mal<apal naman, nragsye-shade ka lang naman.

Chairman
Corrlrn.

Sarrniento: Melo: Velasco:

Clrairrnan
(.orrrrrr.

I-ka

l<o

nqa pwede na yong dahon ng saging eh.

Saka lcuttg kulang, l<ung rnagprint tayo Sir, yong l<wan na lang, ganito na lang na folder para rnagamit natin, di, kasi yong folder ginagarnit natin na nal<asulat don "BALLOT SECRECY
[:OLDER", diba...

Conrm. lagle:
Corrrrn- \/elacco:

Di ba ganitonq folder yon?

Di ba mas maganda tra yong ordinary...hindi yong gamit

r.ra

lang...yong gamit na lang natin na ganito, yonq seal na lang ng COtvIELEC ang ilagay hindi yong "BALLOT SECRECY FOLDER" and nal<asrrlat so we can use tlrat...
Conrnr.

Sarnripnto: i/elasco: Sarrrrierrto:

Pwodeng gaqamitin...

conrm.
Corrrrn.

oo, gaqanritin, so pag-binalik gagamitin natin sa mga.

...ft

tture

use... i

f\

Conrrn.

Velasco; Sarnriento: Velasco: . Melo:

...frrture use, sa mga..

...kaso...

Comm.
Comrn.

..mga official, oo, lalagyan ng mga kaso, kasi pangit namaq) Sir rnaglalagay ka ng kaso "BALLOT SECRECY FOLDER,' ang rrakasrrlat Sir eh,
So what's wrong with that?

Chairrnan Cnmm. Comm.

Velasco: Tagle: Melo: Velasco: Sarmiento: Tagle: Sarmiento: Velasco: Sarmiento: Velasco: Melo: Melo:

Di ko to...

Di na magagamit na...

Chairman
Cornm.

I don't see anything wrong with that.

Kasi mas maganda kung yong gagamitin na lang natin yong seal na lang ng COMELEC, di na lang ilalagay ang...
Kaya lang mag-i-imprenta pa rin tayo kLrng...

Comm.
Comrn.

...additional...
Oo additional,
l-1indi kwarr

Comm. Comm.
Conrm.

yon, pag magamit lahat, kung kulang...

Ah plain na lang, plain... ...yong seal na lang ng coMELEc, yong extra, pero yon parin ang gagamitin natin...
Malal<i ang savings

comm.

Chairman Comm.

natin, six hundred...

Sarnriento: Sarnriento: Tagle: Sarmiento: Velasco: sarnriento: Melo: Sarnriento: Taglle:

XXX

Is it, two...six hundred eighty nine...

Six hr:ndred eighty nine... Excluding the rlillions... Fxcluding pa lra...
Fxcludirrg

Chairman Comm.
Comm. Conrnr. Comnr.

Ito two pesos lang, siguro

no...

cornm.

chair, nabasa ko sa dyaryo, seven hundred yon eh.

They ror,rnded it off... "Ihey rounded it...
Rr:r,rnded na...salca yong
to...

Chairman
Conrrn.

Comm.

transport kinikwestyon nila, from

XXX

NpO

XXX (xxx not related to ballot secrecy folder)

carr order.

ettairntatr

[t4elo:

Ipatawag nyo si Lea, kung anong ngalan, just in case, para we

Saka Chair ipa-double checl< natin kasi, itong sabi dito sa news item na one billion daw yong UV lamps, ma-clarify lang ito, internet, Inquirer.rret,... i

eotttttt.

Sarmiento:

(r

\r

YXX
chairman

XXX (xxx not related to ballot secrecy folder)

XXX

Melo:

Ito rnuna, ito

llindi naman

munang ano, importante, we have to have, another ano ngalan sa secrecy folder, kailanqan pa ba, is that required by law?
cJi ba?

Cornm.

Taqlo: CrLrz:

Atty. Dela

Under the law, voting booth van noon/ di ba, so we, we come up wilh a secrecy folder, na, equivalent to where the voters
aAt-l

Contm.

Qarrlrianto: Crrlz: Crrrz: Cruz; Melo: Melo: Melo: Melo:

Sectecy of the ballots, sanctity of the ballot, ...sanctity of the ballot...

....pero walang sinasabing secrecy folder? Wala Sir. May booth...
Expensive... Mas expensive yong voting booth kesa folder...

Atiy. Dela
Comm.

Sarrniento: Sarmiento:

Atty. llela
Comrr.

Atty. Dela
Dir-.

Sirrocnrz: Sarmiento: Sarmiento: Sarmiento: Sarnriento: Ferrer: Sarnriento:

Chairman Cornm.

Secrecy of the ballot... Secrecy of the ballot... Meanirrg to say secrecy of the ballot...

Chairman Comm.

Di nal<ikita. l-lindi pwedeng tignan nong isa...

Yon...

Chairman Cornm.

Chairman Comm. Comm.

Comrn.

Hindi pwedeng

i...

Oo, nrag-asawa kayo, o ito tama na ba'to? Di ba iyon yong kinunan ng video, nitong mga Bangladesh...
Oo...

Conrm. Ferrer: Chairman lvlelo:

Cornrn.

...kinukunarr, trrrnitingin, sa p,resinto So ano ah, ol< na/ mag-aano ah...

Sarmiento:

Chair, yong ano, Clrair yong folder. Oo yong inaano ko rin baka ma-ano, so Lea Alarkon ang ano dito, we have to get a substitute...
Yes Sir.

Clrairnran 14elo:

Atty. Alarkon:
Clrairman

Melo: [r1elo:

Ano ang sinasabi nitong OTC?

Attv.

Alarl<orr: Sarrrriento:

Am, wala pa po Sir, ah kapapa-receive pa lang po nila.

Ano ihig sabihin ng OTC?
OTC lang

Clrairrnan
Corrrrn.

eh. ('\

Atty.

Alarl<on: Melo:

Ano lang po talaga sir eh, yon lang talaga ang kanilang
conrpany narne. Walanq ibig sabihin ang OTC?
OTC Paper Sr-rpply.

Chairnran

Atty.
It1

Alarl<orr: Sarmiento: Sarrrriento: Sar"nrionto: lleln: l,4elo:

r.

Aquinrr:

l4eron ho, before ho, tawag don One Touch Carbon.

Orre touch.

Cotttm.

Mr. Aqlrirro: Corrrrn.

One

'louch Carbon.

One'fouch Carborr.
Pero, pero naqinq OTC rra lang sila.
One Touclr Carbon, Paper sr"rpply.

l1r.

Aqrrirro:

Corrrrn.

(-lrairrnarr

Nqayon

l(Lt

l)9

Atty.

Alarl<orr:

l(rrng kailanclan...
.. hr.rnrili

clrairmarr

tayo nq ano...

Atty. Alarlcorr:
Chairrnan
Cornrn.

l(ur-rg l<ailangan po, Your Honor, ng alternative dapat meron po

ulit na ihibigay po sa amin na basis for buying.

Meln:

Ano, ano?
Basis for buyinq.

Sarnriento:

Atty. Alarl<on:

Basis for buying, katulad po nung sa resolution po dati, na nagbigay po ng specs. So di ba sabi po ninyo na, ng en banc yesterday, we will find, for a, we will look for alternative...yong
pa

rameters...

Clrairman

Melo:

Ordirrary folder. So we go back to the...3,5 by The one.that we...

Atty.

Alarkon: Ferrer: Melo: Mesa: Melo:

Cornrn.

Clrairrnan

Pina-i-inventory na nga natin yong ano... Wala na nga daw po tayong stocks Sir, kasi ang pag, ang pagorder natin 2007 pa/ so wala na daw pong stock.
So how many do we order?

Dir. De

Clrairrnan

Dir. De
Comnr.

Mesa: Sarrniento: Melo:

Pero, pinadala po ni Director, in, in 2007 elections, pieces, at 3.12 unit, three pesos per.,.

million

But at that tirne Chair, the voters were 47 million, now its 50

nrillion.

Kaya...

Clrairnrarr Cornnr.
Corrrrn.

Were are not going to provide each.. Madadagdagan, Chair, nradadagdaqan lang...

Sarrniento: Velasco:

Not by voter eh, by precinct.

So

Dir.

Elnas:

70. [\

that's, we have 76 tlrousand clustered precinct...maximurn of

r

t\

Comm.

Sarmiento: Velasco: Sarmiento: Melo: Yusoplr: Sarrniento:

:

20...

comm,
Comrn.

o 20...tinres 70... 1.5 nrillion, 1.5 rnillion

Scl mas less...

ang...

Chairman Comm.
Cornm.

1.5 rnillion... 1.5 times three pesos...three pesos yon?

How rnuch?

Cornrn. Yusoplr Chairmarr l'lelo: Comrn.

Corrrrn.

Three pescrs, tirnes three..

1

.6?

Sarmiento: Yrrsoplr: Salrniento: Crrrz: Cruz: Sarrniento: Sarmiento:

1.6 times three pesos..

Four point, four point sornetlrinq..

Cotnrn.

48 rrrillion na, rnagkano?

l:orrr poirrt fir,re...
Forrr point five rnilliorr na Chair. Kurrg three ah, l<ung tuloy ah...

Atty. Dola
s,

Ccrrrrrn.

Atty" Dela
Comrn.

Ktrng three pesr)s per folder...

Dir.

Flnas: Melo: Melo; Melo:

yong balota natin...half lang yong fita-cover nung, parang

bahaerrg nal<a-mini skirt yonq ano natin.

l(aso Sir, excuse me Sir, kaso ang rnangyayari dito is, mahaba

Cha.irntan Comrn.

Walanq problenra ynn.

Sarmiento: SarmierrLo: Sarnrierrto:

Party-list, party list lang naman ano ano...

Because, party list lanq ang nakalaylay eh, Nakalaylay...

Cltairnran
Cornrn.

Chairman Comm.

Di ba rro?
I'lasl<i lang ang party-list.

Chairman Melo:

unknown, because two percent is taken from the total votes of the party-list, so, if all of us do not vote for any party-list, ha, lurnabas lang na one million lang arrg bumoto, two percent of
one milliorr is very srnall.

llindi pero may nabasa ako, kay Pascual, Federico pascual, if you are against the, party-list, you vote for the party-list

XXX
Chairnratt

XXX (xxx not related to ballot secrecy

folder)

XXX
:

Melo:

So ano, anuhin mo yong ano, folder. How do you see now, ikaw na ang bahala.

it that

Atty.

Alarknn:

Ah, paglumabas po yong order to buy po, pwerJe na po ulit ako mag-start n9... Your l-lonor, yong yesterday po may lumabas lang po na en banc resolution na walarrg basis yong allocation, actually, we had atl en banc rFso, approved po ninyo yon ng-... \.r

f.-\
{t \-/

,6

Chairman Melo:

Ah, ya, yd, yd, yd,yd, kaya ito, dahil ito, because yesterday, the presscon statements were made that there will be an investigatiorr, that they will. look into, these anong ngalan, so iexplain mo na lang. Now, you are designated as Investigator,
explanations, ha, from Lea, in fact, ako, I made statement already, that there's seems to be no overprice. The folder is not overpriced. It's just too luxurious for us. It is as if we ordered a Cadillac, instead of..., we ordered a Porsche, instead of a, instead of a Mazda. If I'm considering the statements, yesterday, that I, and for you, for your own good, you look into it and then, you make,a report. Yong mga explanations nila. Because I, it's a lapse in the judgement, that, kumuha tayo ng nras mahal, di pala natin kailangan yong mahal, pwede naman pala dito sa, that's it. You,are not perfect people, we.are not in, but tlre good thirrg is that, we correct our errors. Ok, di ba?
Uhnr..

ha, you look into tlrese, then you get all of the,

the

Comm. Ferrer: Chairrnan Melo:

Cornrn. Yusoplr: Clrairmarr 14elo:
Cc.rmnr. Tagle:

Sino maq-iimbestiga ikaw o si? Si, si...

Rafa na n..
"

Si, si"..
Ra[a rran

chairnrarr Melo: Cornm.

Fer

Si Director Rafanan.
Ang tumatango si, si, tumatango, bal<a and akala nya sya... Sya ang maqsa-submit ng, sya ang nragsa-suLrmit rrg... She will submit the docr:ments...

rer:

Chairman Melo:
Comnr. Yusoph: Clrairnrarr Melo:

Now, mag-issue tayo ng ord"r, designating Dir. Rafanan to look into this matter, of the ah, the ah, secrecy folder, supposed to

have been supplied by OTC. Ha? Ok, the report will

sLrbm

be

itted...

Cortrrl . Sar"rniento: Chairrrrarr l,1elo:

May deadline Chair, before... Yon rrga, so report to be submitted before... Two weeks...

Comm. Ferrer: Chairman Nlelo: Comm. Sarmiento: Chairman Melo:

2I,2Q...
Today is April 6, fourteen days from now, tama...
Ok? Anyway, gawa na naman yong report, its supposerJ submitted.

to

be

Atty. Alarkon:

I will submit it today Your Honor, I have already prepared it yesterday, because of the En Banc reso, we have prepared it already all tl're documents...
For them to submit

Comm, Yusoph:

it to the investigation tomorrow?

Atty. Alarkon:
Chairman Melo:

Ya, the...

Basta, ang i-ernphasize mo ron sa report mo also, is that, ah, kailan'to? Miyerkules Santo ano? [

Ir-l \.

Comm, Sarmiento: Chairman Melo:

Miyerkules Santo, last meeting natin.

Well when wo, when we open this matter, and dh, may sinasabi, you mal<e an explanation, because, I was saying, we will say that there was no red flag was raised, by the people, supposed to be in the BAC, our own people. Because, it the representative in the BAC, no one, pero ang sinasabi mo, kasali ba sila o di sila kasali don sa negotiation na'yon?
Direct procuretnent po vdtr, Your Honor, under the direct procurement you just have to have the one with the patent, submit their offer and then submit it for approval ng en banc, Section 50 po iyan. Saka mali rin po yong lumalabas na negotiation po siya. Actually, iba ang section, 53 po yong
negotiation, negotiated, as against the direct contracted...
Because

Atty. Alarkon:

Chairman Melo:

I, I, I just want to find out why this Serrano...

Atty. Alarkon:

Unang-una naman po, hindi naman po sya umuupong ppCRV representative namin, secorrilly, under the rules of the IRR he should have submitted his report Sa, en banc, copy furnished the BAC, so that the BAC would answer naman.

Chairrnan Melo:

Ilagay rno yan sa ano/ sa report mo, why, ulhy, Serrano was raising out his objection very late.
Saka Your Honor, just to make it of record, up to this date, we have not read any letter of Doctor Serrano. So where is the letter of Serrano, to whom did he sent?
To

Atty. Alarl<on:
Chairnran ft{elo:

Corlrn. Ferrer:

the Law Departrnent.

l)ir. Rafanan:
Clornrn. Sarnriento:

He gave
AVon...

it to me Sir.

Comm. Yrrsoph' Clrairman l,4elo:

Wiltrout ftrrnishing copies to us;..

Why",

why,

rruhy

to you?

Dir. Rafanan:

Which I attached, becausg he came to me, confiding to me about this matter, so I said, you put it to writing so I can refer it to the Chairmarr.
:

Cornrn. YLrsoph

You have agreed?

Eh bakit nag-aabogado pa sya?

Chairman Meln:

Atty. Alarl<on:

And saka Ybur Honor, kung talagang official obrserver sya, alam nya ang rules, na the letter should have been addressed to the head of the prOcuring entity, which is the En Banc, eh bakit..
YoLr

Chairman Melo:

rnr: ba yong Serrano?

put that staternent in the...i-jncorporate mo don. Kaibigan

Dir, Rafanan:
Chairman Melo: Comm, Ferrer:
Cornm. Sarmiento:

Ah, kasama ko sa Rotary Sir.

Eh bakit ah, that's not the proper behaviour. Baka akala nya involve tayo lahat.

Actually naririnig ko sa radio eh, nagkaparti-partihan.

Comm, Ferrer:

Yes. Akala nya involved tayo

lahat. I '\

if
\.,

Comm. Sarmiento:
Comm" Ferrer:

Sabi nya, bakit wala akong parte?

Oo.

Chairman Melo: Comm, \/elasco: Chairman Melo: Comm. Veiasco:

I would say na hindi tama yong ganong na ano...

Pero yong OTC, nag-ano talaga sila ng patent sa kwan na iyon,
reg i ste r.

Application. Application lang... Yong sinabmit ko po na explanation, using the precedent that we had in the procurement of the ballot box, wherein Smartmatic had an, also .an application for patent, yon ang naging basis natin for the approval ng ballot box, even though they don't have yet a patent over the ballot box, l<asi upon representation, ang sabi po ng IPO, basta walang contrary, walang nagkokontra don sa application nong patent, automatically naa-approve po yofl, after the one month, publication po sa newspaper. Meron na po tayong precedent don sa ballot box eh, for us to use another, parang avenue, in evaluating some, another supplier with the same case parang magiging, l<okontrahin natin yong sarili po natin. Dahil ginawa na po natin yong ganong proceeding before, The ballot box is designed for a specific machlne, the ballot box is designed for a specific machine, it cannot be used in another machine. The specs of the ballot bcx is based on the actual weight, the actual size of the machines, the.., Pagpinatong mo sa actual machine...

Atty. Alarkon:

Prof. Garcia:

Chairman Melo:
Prof. Garcia:

To make it unique to the rnachine, not to Comelec. They can sell that as part of the nrachine, anywhere else in the world. If we use anotlrer nrachine, we will not be able to use the same ballot box. It's very specific, in this case the ballot secrecy folder is not specific in any particular, or unique, or outside of Comelec, the only thing that makes it unique is Comelec, its Ballot Secrecy Folder, in which case, normally the practice in the indr:stry, is that the owne'r the part of that is real..
Ts

eornm. Ferrer:
Frof. Garcia:

the buyer...

Its just like rnarketing, giveaways, anything that, you know, design, the Comelec seal, the padlocks, or a t-shirt or whatever. Those becomes unique to the owner of the...its not,
in fact.
Your Honor, meron pa po tayorrg isang precerlent, kung ganon yong magiging basis natin, since 2004, in the 2OO4, ZOO7, elections, we have been purchasirrg the binders, binders-folders din po yan, meron din pong patent yong may-ari ng binders, pino-procure po natin. May precedent talaga tayo na ang folder pina-patent ng may-ari po talaga, tapos..
Supplier?

Atty. Alarkon:

Chairmarr Melo:

Atty. Alarl<orr:
Chairman Melo:

Yorr po yong rnga dati nating mga precedent, so, may mga hasis po tayo...ang sinabi po natin, it's a simple folder...

I think, it should belong to the applicant.

f lt \
\,

4,
\

Atty. Alar[<orr:

The fact that we have been buying since 2004, ibig sabihin po ba, 2OO4 po aanohin, kung ganon ang magiging argument natin, l<asi po 2004 pa hr_rmibili na tayo ng binder...

Chairrrrna Melo:

It should belong to the applicant,

...folder din po lang yon.

Atty. Alarkr:n:
Comm. Ferrer: Chairman Melo:

Tayo nagbigay ng specifications, di ba, and il-rey complied our specifications.

with (l

No, no, no...dito we did not put specifications, we just want a local, pero kunyari sinasabi yong binder, what if there,s binder, pwede gamitin sa SSS, sa records nila, o GSIS, they have to get our, our OK? For these manufacturers to manufacture, for GSIS or SSS? Because almost the same ang ating ano eh, folder eh, to keep our voters'records,'to naman to keep our employees' records,
Pare-parehas lang naman eh, inilalagay lang naman eh...

Comm. Taqle: Chairman Melo: Cornm. Ferrer:

Chairmarr Melo:

Can be use elsewhere, kanya lang pina-design natin, ganyan/ ganyan, ganyan, di ba?

natin.

Gusto

Which is our specifications,.it should be like this, like that...

Pero ang patent sa kanila. Ok...

Dir. Rafanan:
Chairman Melo:

Sir, I do not think we need any patented materials for the...

Never mind, walang nang patented, wala na, tapos na yan. It's useless talking about the pateni, patent, wala na, we will be using the folder na.

Comm. Sarmiento:

Sir clarification, nandito si Lea, l<asi for the UV lamps sabi Inquirer.net at least one million...
XXX

ng

(xxx not related to ballot secrety folder:)

XXX

Transcription by:
/

/ , a \ -r'l V. Peralta ){ct/t^'''Elmersbn

(Stendgrapher on Duty)

Noted hy:
?( '- L--' ,r::.: /' Cyrrthia Patricia P. Aqfuirro Board Secretary II
--/' .?

-)

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