MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday announced that it has moved the deadline for the submission of bidding documents for the 2025 automated elections from Nov. 28 to Dec. 12
According to Comelec chair George Garcia on Wednesday, the postponement was made to give other potential suppliers more time to prepare and submit their requirements.
“Ginawa nating Dec. 12 para lahat makakapag-submit sa Commission on Elections,” he said in a press conference.
(We set the deadline for Dec. 12 so everyone can submit to the Commission on Elections.)
Furthermore, Garcia said the postponement of the submission would allow the Comelec to resolve the “controversy” surrounding Smartmatic.
READ: Comelec set to decide on Smartmatic DQ case today
A petition to disqualify Smartmatic from participating in the bidding for the poll system to be used in the 2025 elections was filed before the Comelec in June this year.
READ: Petition to kick out Smartmatic from 2025 midterm polls submitted to Comelec
Garcia assured the public that Comelec’s decision on the petition would be based on evidence.
“Comelec should not decide only based on whatever is the sentiment of the people, whatever is the ‘chismis’ (gossip) of others,” said Garcia.
“What is important is that the Comelec should decide on the case based on the evidence at hand, and at the same time, based on the jurisprudence and the facts presented to us,” he added.
The poll chair then vowed that whatever the decision is, it will be for the “good of the country, of our election management, and for the purpose of upholding, affirming the integrity of each and every election that the Comelec is conducting.”