MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is hoping that the Supreme Court will reconsider its ruling that the poll body committed grave abuse of discretion for disqualifying Smartmatic before the latter could submit any bids for the 2025 elections.
According to Comelec chairperson George Garcia, they are set to file a motion for reconsideration even if the high court said the ruling will not have any effect on poll body’s deal with South Korea firm Miru Systems.
“Lumalabas kung ano ‘yung nangyari, valid na po lahat yan. ‘Yung award namin wala na pong problema. Wala na pong effect, therefore, sa ating halalaan sa 2025,” Garcia said in an interview with DZBB AM radio on Thursday.
“And at the same time, ang sinasabi lang po ng Korte Suprema, kung sakali sa mga susunod na procurement sa mga darating na panahon, dapat kasali na po sila,” he added.
In November 2023, Comelec disqualified Smarmatic from all procurements of the poll body due to allegations of bribery against former Comelec chairperson Juan Andres “Andy” Bautista “in exchange for awarding a contract for election machines to Smartmatic Corp.”
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court announced that Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion when it disqualified Smartmatic before it could submit any bids.
Meanwhile, former lawmaker Edgar Erice on Thursday asked SC to declare null and void the contract between Comelec and Miru Systems for the 2025 elections.
In his 50-page petition for certiorari, Erice also asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order or a writ of preliminary injunction to stop the poll body from implementing En Banc Minute Resolution No. 24-0114, which awarded the project to Miru.
“Pinag-aralan ko mabuti at nakita ko na ‘yung Miru contract na ‘yan ay in violation of Republic Act 7369, which is the Automated Election Law. Una sa procedure, maraming hindi nasunod na procedure,” Erice said.
“Pangalawa ‘yung gagamiting machine, prototype, magiging guinea pig tayo, it’s against the law,” he added. “Third, highly anomalous, it’s a robbery in progress.”
Erice further said that this is the first time that the government will spend P17.99-billion foran automated elections./PN
