Comelec disqualifies bidder for overseas vote

INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — One of the four bidders for the P465-million online voting and counting system for overseas voting in the 2025 elections is seeking a reconsideration of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision to disqualify it.

The joint venture of AMA Group Holdings Corp., Dasan Network Solutions Inc., and Kevoting Inc. twice sought reconsideration of its bid earlier declared “ineligible,” first on April 4 before the special bid and awards committee (SBAC), and second, on April 12 before the Comelec en banc.

READ: Comelec: 4 bidders for overseas online voting, counting system

The Comelec denied the second motion, saying the AMA-Dasan-Kevoting did not pay the required nonrefundable “protest fee” of P2.3 million, which represented 5 percent of the ceiling bid.

In a message to reporters on Sunday, Comelec Chair George Garcia said the project had not been awarded, the protest fee was a “mandatory requirement” under the procurement law, and the consortium’s bid raised questions on its capacity to handle the 2025 overseas voting system. —DEXTER CABALZA