Comelec: Preparations for 2025 midterm polls on track

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia  (INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO)

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections is still on track in its preparation for the 2025 midterm elections, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Monday.

Garcia said this comes as the Supreme Court (SC) did not issue any injunctive writ despite its order to 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 contract for the 2025 elections.

“We are so elated that the High Court did not issue  any injunctive writ,” Garcia told reporters. 

“Thus, our preparations  for the automated 2025 NLE will proceed as scheduled in view of a very tight timeline that we have,” he added.

The SC 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 City Representative Edgar Erice on April 18.

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, among other reasons.

Garcia said the Comelec will heed the High Court’s order.

“We will file the Comment accordingly,” he said.