Garcia: Comelec may resort to manual should SC rule against Miru

Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) may resort to manual 2025 national and local polls should the Supreme Court (SC) issue a ruling against Miru Systems, according to Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Tuesday.

This was Garcia’s response when asked how long it would take for Comelec to negotiate a contract for the automated counting machines (ACMs) to be used in next year’s midterm elections, should the SC order them to pull out their deal with Miru and switch to a “negotiated contract” instead.

READ: Amid issues at Comelec, Miru Systems vows clean polls

“I don’t want to speculate because, of course, it would be wrong to second-guess the actions of the Supreme Court. At this point, if ever we decide to stop in our preparations—let’s put aside the scenario that we will be ordered to stop—we will end up resorting to manual election in 2025,” Garcia said in an ambush interview.

Worst-case scenario

“That would be the worst-case scenario, as we can no longer manage another round of procurement,” he added.

Garcia explained that a negotiated contract would only be considered if two bidding processes for the procurement of a contract failed.

READ: Garcia to NBI: Probe bribery raps, ‘it’s a demolition job vs Comelec’

“Now, if the Supreme Court tells us, ‘alright, don’t go through bidding anymore, go straight to negotiated’ … but even if its negotiated … one should consider the need to manufacture 110,000 machines as well as many other things that need to be resolved. We might run out of time,” he said.

Garcia stressed that his statement was not intended to influence the SC, as he was merely presenting Comelec’s stance on a hypothetical scenario.

This inquiry arose after Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, in a press briefing also on Tuesday, alleged that at least P1 billion was transferred from banks, including those based in South Korea, to 49 offshore accounts supposedly linked to an unnamed Comelec official.

Marcoleta did not say that the funds came from Miru, but he noted that Miru is a South Korean firm.

Garcia, during the ambush interview, rebutted the accusations and said he was the one being referred to by Marcoleta.

“Let’s not beat around the bush. I am the one being referred to. We’ve had this information for two weeks. Actually, the demolition job against Comelec was planned. Some people already held a press conference,” he told reporters.

Comelec awarded the contract for the ACMs and other paraphernalia for the 2025 midterm elections to a joint venture led by Miru Systems last February.

However, last April 18, Aksyon Demokratiko member and former Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice asked the SC to stop Comelec from implementing its P17.9-billion contract with Miru.