SC to Comelec, Miru: Reply to plea asking to stop AES implementation

Supreme Court

MANILA CITY, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and South Korea’s Miru Systems Co. Ltd. to respond to the petition seeking to stop the implementation of their P17.9-billion Automated Election System (AES) contract for the 2025 national and local elections.

In a statement Monday, the SC Public Information Office gave Comelec and Miru 10 days from receipt of notice to file their comments on the petition and on the application for temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction filed by former Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice on April 18.

READ: SC asked to stop Comelec – Miru deal for 2025 polls

Erice said the contract violates the provisions of Republic Act 7369, or the Automated Election Law, specifically the provisions on bidding procedures and the use of prototype machines during elections.

“We will become guinea pigs. It is against the law,” said Erice.

He added that the contract is highly disadvantageous to the government, which stands to lose around P10 billion in taxpayers’ money.

While the case is pending, Erice is asking the SC to issue a temporary restraining order against the contract’s implementation.

Erice’s petition was filed a day after the SC ruled Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion when it disqualified Smartmatic-TIM Corporation from bidding for the P17.9 billion Automated Election System (AES) contract.

READ: SC: Comelec gravely abused discretion in disqualifying Smartmatic

Erice said Smartmatic has nothing to do with his petition.