A group of computer companies has offered its software for free in pushing for an automated elections this year.

Dubbed as "Botong Pinoy," the system will result in an easier, faster, secure and extremely accurate voting using personal computers in schools, proponents claim. The group, however, admitted that their project is a "dead cause" already because the Commission on Elections had ruled that poll automation can no longer be implemented for the May 14 elections due to time constraints.

The group led by Genaro de Vera III conducted a mock elections in five provinces Friday, and claimed they have proven the COMELEC wrong.

The group also claimed that with the system set up only last week, it was operational during the mock elections in Davao, Los Baños, La Union, Metro Manila and in Oriental Negros particularly at the Negros Maritime College.

The system will eliminate possible ballot snatchings, switching, "dag-dag bawas," and "kadena," or other election fraud, its convenors further claimed.

Bienvenido Narvaza, area head of Bagumbayan Movement Volunteers for a New Philippines in the Visayas said that, "Botong Pinoy" is hitting two birds with one stone.

He said computers to be provided by government will be left behind for the schools to use after the elections. Narvaza, instead called, on the people for vigilance and to volunteer for a clean, orderly and honest elections.

Programmer Zaldy Mendova of the Mega Group of Companies said "Botong Pinoy" uses a system where both literates and illiterates can vote without any aid. By just touching the picture of candidates on the screen, the vote is counted for illiterate voters, while computer-literate voters may use the mouse for their choices, he claimed.

The system also provides for a recount with the use of the bar codes, that when tampered will be declared as void.

The results of Friday's mock election were held confidential and were not released for broadcast, De Vera said.*JG

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