Palace welcomes SC decision on vote-counting machines

PCOS machine. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the Commission on Election’s P1.8-billion contract to buy the vote-counting machines used in the 2010 elections from Smartmatic-TIM.

“We welcome the timeliness of the Supreme Court decision, as it now ensures the legal certainty of the automation of the 2013 elections,” said Abigail Valte, one of President Benigno Aquino III’s spokespersons.

The decision in effect lifted a temporary restraining order the Supreme Court issued in late April preventing the Comelec from pushing through with the Smartmatic-TIM deal.

A group that included Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr., and civil society member Ma. Linda Montayre had questioned the Comelec’s authority to buy the precinct count optical scan machines without any public bidding.