MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said some Catholic bishops were misled by some groups into believing that the election body transgressed when it tapped poll technology partner Smartmatic for the diagnostics of 82,000 voting machines for the 2016 balloting.
Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. said the prelates were not properly informed that the supposed P300-million diagnostic project had not yet been signed and that the project was still under negotiation with the Venezuelan firm.
INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC
“[They are being misled] because they are talking to the same people who know nothing,” Brillantes told reporters. He was referring to election watchdogs, including the Citizens for Clean and Credible Elections (C3E).
Earlier, 25 members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines urged the Comelec in a letter to revoke a “holiday rush” resolution awarding the contract for the diagnostics of 82,000 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines to Smartmatic.
They also asked the election body to postpone any action on the matter until after Brillantes and Commissioners Elias Yusoph and Lucenito Tagle have retired and their replacements already appointed. The three Comelec officials are retiring next week.
C3E had called on the Senate blue ribbon committee and the joint congressional oversight committee to look into allegations that top Comelec officials got millions of pesos in “farewell gift” from Smartmatic in exchange for the contracts to revamp the PCOS machines for the 2016 elections.
“They should ask first whether there is already a contract. There is no contract yet [since] we are still negotiating. The offer is P300 million but we are still bargaining. For me, it is a big thing that the price will be lowered,” said Brillantes.
The outgoing chair also rejected calls that he and two other retiring officials inhibit from the decision-making, saying that as long as he thought the decision concerning the contract was right, he would still sign the papers.
“Why would I not sign? Is it because I am already retiring. That would make me look like I am scared. I won’t do anything wrong. I will sign as long as the decision is right. I am still the chairman and I am still authorized to sign,” he insisted.
He also expressed confidence that the Comelec would get a favorable decision from the Supreme Court over another complaint lodged by groups led by C3E, questioning its renewed partnership with Smartmatic.
“The case has no hope because they brought up the same issues which the Supreme Court has already decided on,” said Brillantes.
On Wednesday, the group filed a petition asking the high tribunal to blacklist Smartmatic from participating in the ongoing bidding for the forthcoming automated presidential elections. It cited the firm’s failure to meet its obligations in the 2010 and 2013 elections.