Give scissors, too, Smartmatic told

WHY NOT donate 100,000 pairs of scissors, too?

A local paper manufacturing company Sunday posed this challenge to automation service contractor Smartmatic after the latter offered to donate to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) 1.1 million thermal paper rolls and two million marking pens for the May 9 elections.

“We do not like to venture as to the motive of Smartmatic in donating the thermal paper. But suffice it to say it was our bid that eventually saved the Filipino people P83.6 million,” said Forms International Enterprises Corp. in a statement over the weekend.

“Perhaps, Smartmatic would consider donating the scissors needed for their vote counting machines (VCMs) as well,” it said.

The company was the winning bidder for the thermal paper, offering P49.5 million against Smartmatic’s P83.6 million to supply the thermal paper for the printing of voter receipts in the elections.

The Comelec has allotted a budget of P1 million for the purchase of 100,000 pairs of scissors that will be used to cut the voter receipts since the built-in cutters of the VCMs are not heavy duty.

The company said it respected the decision of the Comelec to accept Smartmatic’s donation at no cost.

Last month, the Supreme Court ordered the Comelec to activate the voter verified paper audit trail, granting the petitions of senatorial candidates Richard Gordon and Greco Belgica.

But Commissioner Rowan Guanzon, the lone dissenter, said on her Twitter account that receiving a donation from Smartmatic was graft. Jocelyn R. Uy