Automated poll machine supplier questioned on ownership issue

MANILA, Philippines–One of the companies vying for the right to supply automated election machines for the 2016 polls is partly owned by a foreign government, according to an official of the firm.

Under questioning by Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice, Indra Sistemas vice president Carlos Suarez said the government of Spain is the single largest owner of his company.

During the hearing of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms on Tuesday, Suarez said Indra, through Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI), is the single largest shareholder of the company.
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Erice quizzed Indra on the ownership issue, stressing that he is concerned that a foreign state could interfere with the country’s elections.

“I understand that it’s normal for states to have a majority stake in companies. But it’s a different matter if we’re talking about elections, ” Erice said.

Erice was seconded by Rep. Terry Ridon who said that the matter is “cause for concern.”

“We don’t want foreign state entities to be involved in our election,” Ridon said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Fredenil Castro, who chairs the committee, urged certain “interested” groups and “self-styled” experts not to create ”unwarranted noise” about the ongoing bid even as he appealed to such groups not to cast aspersion on the integrity and credibility of the Commission on Elections.

“We should not allow this thing to happen because elections are critical to our democracy,” he said.

Addressing Evita Jimenez of AES Watch, which had been critical of the automated election system, Castro appealed for the group to refrain from attacking the Comelec without substantiation.

“Unless they can substantiate their accusations, I urge these groups to exercise restraint in coming out with statements that put the Comelec in a bad light,” Castro said.

“The Comelec safeguards our elections. If these groups attack the integrity of the Comelec then it weakens our democracy because it places the legitimacy of the government under a cloud of suspicion.”
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