Garcia sees Smartmatic behind ‘demolition job’

MANILA, Philippines — Documents obtained by the Commission on Elections point to technology provider Smartmatic as possibly behind what Comelec Chairman George Garcia sees as a demolition job against him, according to the poll chief.

By searching online, Garcia said the Comelec was able to obtain documents showing the Jaleo Consulting LLC, which deposited money to his alleged bank accounts in Cayman Islands, is owned by a certain Jose Herrera.

An online search of Herrera’s identity showed he is a director of Albatross Technologies Corp., which has the same address as Smartmatic in the US.

Garcia said they found out that Herrera, who also served as counsel for Smartmatic, is the father-in-law of one of the owners of the service provider.

“Why did the searches lead to only one company? There are many attached firms, but there is only one main company,” Garcia said.

He said he sent a letter to the US justice department, requesting to investigate the matter for possible violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law as well as bank fraud and identity theft.

“This is a direct intervention to the Philippine elctions by a foreign entity. That is prohibited under the law,” Garcia said yesterday in a press conference, wherein he presented the documents.

Smartmatic denied Garcia’s accusations and expressed regret that the company’s name is being dragged into the controversy.

“Our company is not involved nor behind any of the claims made by Chairman Garcia against us. Such accusations are both unfair and unjust,” Smartmatic said in a statement.

It said the company is focused on a pending case it filed before the Supreme Court against the poll body and technology provider Miru Systems.

“Any suggestion to the contrary is baseless and mere speculation,” it said.

Garcia said he would send the documents to the US justice department and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

He said he had been advised not to respond to the accusations hurled against him as powerful people and entities are behind the “well-oiled and grand operation” against the Comelec.

But he said he had to fight those who are trying to destroy his reputation in order to protect the poll body.

Garcia said he would file appropriate charges as soon as the NBI and the Anti-money Laundering Commission complete the investigation into his alleged offshore accounts.

He said the Comelec commissioners would discuss their options to prevent what he described as “foreign intervention” in Philippine elections through “banks.”

Commissioner Ernest Maceda said the accusations against Garcia are unfounded, noting the poll body has been transparent in all its procurement processes.

Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said the old vote counting machines are no longer serviceable and new ones should be procured for the 2025 midterm polls.

Meanwhile, aside from two banks in Cayman Islands, six banks in South Korea also disputed the alleged fund transfer to Garcia’s supposed offshore accounts.

At a press conference yesterday, Garcia presented certifications from six Korean banks, denying the existence of bank accounts or remittances as alleged by critics.

“There is no record of remittances made during the specified period by the account opened at the SCB Korea to the accounts listed,” the Standard Chartered Bank in Korea said in response to a request of technology provider Miru Systems Co. Ltd. to confirm the accounts, which money was allegedly sourced from the South Korean firm.

Five other banks – KD Kookmim Bank, Woori Bank Shinhan Bank, Keb Hana Bank and Hana Bank – also issued similar certifications denying the existence of alleged bank accounts and remittances.

Garcia said the certifications issued by six Korean banks proved that the allegations against him that he received bribe from Miru Systems are fabricated.

He appealed to President Marcos not to allow foreign entities to intervene in local elections by peddling false accusations against the Comelec.

Garcia urged Senate President Francis Escudero and Speaker Martin Romualdez to prevent anyone from using the poll body for personal interests.