Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Manila (Photo by Angie de Silva).
A Catholic bishop in the Philippines has called on the country's poll body to consider an alternative automated election system developed by Filipinos.
Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Manila said using a system developed by local information technology professionals will make Philippine elections "more transparent."
Andres Bautista, chairman of the Philippines' Commission on Elections said he would consider the prelate's suggestion. "We want to listen to stakeholders and look at other options," said the official.
Bishop Pabillo and Bautista led a "Voter Awareness Day" campaign at a Manila university on March 1.
The poll body has allocated US$211,000 to determine if the country's voting machines are still usable in elections in 2019.
During last year's elections, the Philippine government leased new vote counting machines from an international supplier instead of using existing ones.
