Bribery allegations vs Comelec execs must be investigated – groups

Comelec. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Election watchdog Kontra Daya and Bayan Muna Partylist demanded a probe into bribery accusations against Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials.

They also urged for a hybrid 2025 midterm polls to ensure democratic and honest elections in the wake of the alleged involvement of Comelec executives in corruption.

During a protest rally in front of the Comelec’s main office building, Palacio del Gobernador, in Intramuros, Manila, the groups slammed Miru Systems, the South Korea-based company awarded with the contract for the automated counting machines that will be used in the election next year.

Kontra Daya and Computer Professionals Union leader Kim Cantillas said Miru Systems has been “drowning in controversies and corruption” in its previous deals.

“Itong Miru Systems ay isang kumpanya sa South Korea na lunod sa kontrobersya ng kurapsyon at pandaraya sa eleksyon ng ibang mga bansa tulad ng Iraq, Congo, South Africa, El Salvador, Bolivia, Belarus, at Kyrgyzstan,” Cantillas said.

(Miru Systems is a company in South Korea that is drowning in controversy over corruption and election fraud in other countries such as Iraq, Congo, South Africa, El Salvador, Bolivia, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan.)

READ: Comelec chair Garcia bares ‘plot’ to impeach, discredit poll execs

“Dapat maglunsad ng imbestigasyon tungkol sa alegasyon ng panunuhol ng Miru at isiwalat ang katotohanan sa publiko. Ipinapanawagan pa rin namin ang isang tunay na demokratiko, malinis at transparent na eleksyon kung saan makikita ng mamamayan na nabibilang ng tama ang mga boto niya, at magagawa ito sa isang hybrid election system,” she added.

(An investigation on allegations of bribery by Miru should be launched and the truth should be disclosed to the public. We are still calling for a truly democratic, clean, and transparent election where the citizens can see that their votes are being counted correctly, and this can be achieved through a hybrid election system.)

The bribery allegations stemmed from Sagip Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta’s claims last Tuesday that at least P1 billion worth of funds were transferred from banks, including those based in South Korea, to 49 offshore accounts that are supposedly linked to an unnamed Comelec official.

He did not identify the firm involved in the alleged transaction but said it is from South Korea.

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

Reacting to Marcoleta’s statement, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said he was the one being referred to by the lawmaker.

“Huwag na po nating paikut-ikutin. Ako po ‘yung nire-refer doon. Dalawang linggo na po kaming may impormasyon. Actually po, nakaplano ‘yung demolition job laban sa Comelec. May mga nag-presscon,” he told reporters.

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

Garcia, through a letter addressed to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago dated July 8, sought for a probe into allegations that he accepted bribes.

He specifically asked for NBI’s help in finding the source of the accusations, details and validity of the supposed bank accounts, and any legal action that may be taken to solve the matter.

Two days later, the poll body chief also asked the Anti-Money Laundering Council to investigate the issue.

In a Viber message to reporters Friday, Garcia said a hybrid election, or combining in-person and electronic voting, is impossible in the 2025 national and local polls.

“Kasi po ‘yung automation law ay pure automation nakalagay, at ang budget din po na binigay sa atin ay para sa pure automation lamang,” he explained.

(Because the automation law states pure automation only, and the budget given to us is also for pure automation only.)

He also said counting votes through a hybrid election would take a long time.

“Tatlong araw na po ‘di pa tayo nakakatapos ng bilangan sa presinto,” Garcia said when asked for a comment on the protesters’ call.

(It’s already three days but we’re still not done counting in the precinct.)