Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has approved the notice of award to F2 Logistics for the transport and warehousing of 2022 election supplies despite the company’s reported links to a campaign contributor of President Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 presidential race.
“The Notice of Award was approved by the En Banc,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez confirmed to reporters in a Viber message.
The Comelec earlier said it would not void the P1.61-billion contract awarded to the logistics firm despite its reported links to Davao businessman Dennis Uy. Comelec Chair Sheriff Abas and Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said Uy’s ties to Duterte was not a ground to disqualify F2 Logistics and void the P1.61-billion contract awarded to the company.
F2 Logistics won the public bidding to handle the deployment of election equipment, forms, supplies, and paraphernalia, as well as warehousing, for the national and local elections next year.
Abas, nevertheless, earlier said he had ordered the Comelec’s special bids and awards committee to look into Uy’s supposed links to the company.