SC defers ruling on TRO plea in Smartmatic deal

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has again deferred the ruling on a plea to stop the contract of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) with technology provider Smartmatic-TIM for the diagnostics and repair of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines to be used for the 2016 polls.

In a session yesterday, justices opted not to immediately rule on the bid to stop Comelec from implementing its P268.8-million contract with Smartmatic.

Instead, magistrates required Comelec and Smartmatic to first comment on the third petition against their contract filed last week by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).

Comelec and Smartmatic were given a non-extendible period of 10 days to comply with the order.