Melo: Senators misled

MANILA, Philippines – Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo accused losing bidders yesterday of handing out information to senators that would raise doubts on the credibility of automated elections.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Melo said he got this impression because senators raised issues similar to those brought up by disqualified bidders Avante International, AMA Group of Companies and Sequoia Voting Systems in their letters to the Comelec during the Senate inquiry the other day.
“These people (losing bidders) are really giving information (to everyone) to raise doubt (on the automation),” he said. 

“It’s possible but I’m not saying that’s what happened.”

If the losing bidders have issues against the results of the bidding, they should have questioned the process before the Comelec, Melo said.

During an inquiry the other day, some senators questioned Comelec officials and winning bidder Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. (TIM) about its eligibility and capability to supply the automation machines for next year’s elections.
In awarding the contract to the winning bidder, the Comelec was guided by the endorsements of the multi-sector Advisory Council on Poll Automation, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and Office of the Ombudsman.

Representatives of these agencies sat as official observers during the bidding.

NP warns Melo

Malacañang is confident that elections would take place next year regardless of what happens with the contract between the Comelec and Smartmatic International-TIM.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the administration wants to see the automation of next year’s elections.

“We are not in the position to say anything much other than having to follow up the deliberations in the Senate,” he said.

“But we wish the automated elections will happen because that will help us.”

Ermita said Malacañang has no choice but to respect the power of the Senate to look into the contract of Smartmatic.

“Let us just wait for the final outcome of the investigation,” he said.

However, Ermita said the Palace is willing to accept “alternatives” if the Comelec fails to implement the law on automated elections.

The Comelec has backup plans, including the return to the manual system, he added.

Ermita said it is important that the elections push through next year regardless of which system would be used.

“We are 11 months away from the elections, and we are confident that the Comelec will be able to handle the situation,” he said. — Sheila Crisostomo, Aurea Calica, Marvin Sy