Comelec to follow SC ruling on Smartmatic challenge vs. DQ

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia (File Photo: Yancy Lim via Philippine News Agency/Facebook)

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is ready to comply with the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) on the case filed by its former service provider Smartmatic Philippines.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Monday they have yet to receive an order from the High Court halting any of their preparations for next year’s midterm polls.

In December last year, Smartmatic contested the legality of its disqualification from the poll body’s bidding process for the 2025 automated election system before the SC.

Garcia, however, ruled out the possibility of holding manual elections.

“Again we cannot resort to manual elections. Because otherwise, the Comelec will be violating the law. We can only resort to automated elections in 2025 because that is what the law provides. You have to automate the national and local elections. So kung ano po yung magiging (whatever is the) disposition, iyan naman po ay part ng proseso (that is part of the process) pero in the meantime, the Comelec will have to proceed,” he said in a press briefing.

Garcia noted that the dealings of the Comelec are in order and are compliant with the country’s laws, particularly the Government Procurement Reform Act.

On Monday, the Comelec, together with the joint venture of Miru Systems Co. Ltd., Integrated Computer Systems, St. Timothy Construction Corporation, and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies Inc. (MIRU-ICS-STCC-CPSTI), signed the over PHP17 billion poll automation contract for the May 2025 polls.

Miru Systems tendered a bid of PHP17.98 billion for the project which includes the manufacturing of 110,000 automated counting machines and ballots, among others.