Smartmatic eyes other contracts for 2013 polls

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Monday said Smartmatic had expressed its intent to bid after the poll body rejected its proposal to include the other services needed in its new contract with the Comelec which involves the purchase of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines used in the 2010 elections. INQUIRER PHOTO

Its critics may not like it but technology provider Smartmatic will be joining  the public bidding for the other polling services needed for 2013 midterm elections, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Monday said Smartmatic had expressed its intent to bid after the poll body rejected its proposal to include the other services needed in its new contract with the Comelec which involves the purchase of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines used in the 2010 elections.

The other services to be bid out include ballot printing, supply of ballot paper, warehouse rentals, hiring of technical personnel and handling of the configuration system, among other things.

“They also wanted that but we told them that they have to bid for it,” Brillantes told reporters.  “We told them we can’t give it to them without a bidding because there might be others that can offer these services at lower prices.”

It was highly possible that Smartmatic would win the bidding to handle the configuration of the machines, Brillantes said.  “But all the rest, especially those not related to the machines, like the ballot boxes, ballot papers, printing, deployment… they will have a hard time getting,” he said.

Option to purchase

These services will be subjected to a public bidding by the Comelec’s Special Bids and Awards Committee.

Voting 5-2, the Comelec en banc decided last month to exercise the “option to purchase” the more than 80,000 PCOS machines for use in the 2013 elections.

Smartmatic had given the Comelec up to March 31 to exercise the option.

Last week, the Comelec signed the deed of sale with Smartmatic for the purchase of about 80,000 PCOS machines,  the automated election system (AES) software and the consolidation and canvassing system for P1.8 billion.

1-year warranty

The machines, which have a one-year warranty, will be delivered in four batches with any glitches fixed.

But several poll watchdogs questioned the Comelec’s decision to purchase the used PCOS machines, saying that buying “glitch-ridden” machines would cast doubts on the results of the 2013 elections.

The Automated Election System (AES) Watch said it would file a petition before the Supreme Court on Wednesday to stop the Comelec from using the PCOS machines which supposedly had been proven deficient with errors and bugs when they were used in the 2010 elections.

AES Watch said it would seek a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction against the Comelec and Smartmatic.

The petitioners would include Solita “Winnie” Monsod of the Movement for Good Governance; Maria Corazon Akoll of Transparentelections.org.ph; Nelson Celis Jr., president of the Philippine Computer Society Foundation; Pablo Manalastas of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo.

Another group, the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente), also plans to file a similar case against Comelec and Smartmatic.