One of our so called IT experts has come out with a statement so bold I really wonder if he even has any proof at all of what he's saying. In an abs-cbnnews.com report, long-time PCOS critic Augusto Lagman has been quoted  as saying that the Philippines wasted P7.2 billion pesos on a system that is error-ridden.

I really wonder where Mr. Lagman based his conclusion. Is he seriously using the string of questionable claims and allegations against the automated election system as proof?

In fairness, he did dismiss the claims made by the self-confessed electoral fraud operator known as Koala Bear. I think he found Koala's story incredible.

In any case, it is still rather strange that Mr.Lagman would make such a conclusion about the system considering that none of the ongoing investigations have yielded any solid evidence.

(excerpt from abs-cbnnews.com report)

"We are back to where we were when we were using the manual elections," Augusto Lagman of the anti-election fraud group Transparent Elections.Org told ANC's Headstart, referring to the various complaints about the automated election system.

Mr. Lagman is clearly making a sweeping generalization here. How can he say such a thing when it's very clear that, despite all its imperfections, the automated system clearly changed the game. For one, it is quite clear that the system put many electoral fraud operators out of business.

Ironically, it is this game-changing impact of the system that is making it the target of all sorts of attack. Think about it. Who stands to benefit should our election system revert back to manual?

The same abs-cbnnews.com report says Mr. Lagman also believes that cheating "could not have come from outside, but within the ranks of poll equipment supplier Smartmatic."

I don't think so.

What Mr. Lagman and those gullible enough to believe him fail to realize is that there's just no compelling reason for Smartmatic to sabotage it's own system. And, for what? To help certain politicians win?

The way I see it, Smartmatic's interest lies in the success of the elections. It's obvious. Smartmatic aims to do more business not only here in the Philippines but in other countries in the region as well. Why would it fool around when doing so would clearly jeopardize its business?

I seriously think Mr. Lagman knows whom he should blame but chose to drag Smartmatic because of some other reason.

In case you missed it, Mr. Lagman is an IT expert and a businessman.