Senator Risa Hontiveros mentioned the choice of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to award the P18-billion vote counting machines contract to South Korean agency Miru Systems Company Limited was “disturbing” amid its alleged questionable observe document.
In a privilege speech, Hontiveros questioned the dearth of bidders for the AES contract for the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE), saying it’s the “largest single contract in Philippine election history” dwarfing the P25 billion ballot automation funding from 2010 to 2022.
“What raises questions, Mr. President, dear colleagues, is the bidding for the richest single contract in Philippine election history was only able to attract a single bidder: a Joint Venture composed of South Korea’s Miru Systems Co. Ltd., and Philippine companies Integrated Computer Systems, St. Timothy Construction Corporation, and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies,” the senator mentioned.
On March 11, Comelec and Miru signed the contract for the lease of an automatic election system for the 2025 elections.
The P17.99-billion contract will cowl round 110,000 machines and peripherals together with poll bins, laptops, and different printing necessities for the 2025 NLE.
GMA News Online sought the aspect of Miru by its public relations officer and can submit its response as quickly as obtainable.
Hontiveros raised the potential of “bid suppression” amongst corporations, whereby a number of rivals agree to not bid or withdraw beforehand submitted bids so {that a} designated bidder will win.
“Napakalaking kontrata, walang ni isang bidder? Yes, Smartmatic was disqualified because of its own money laundering controversies, but there were others. Bakit biglang naglaho na lang?” she mentioned.
(This is an enormous contract and but nobody desires to bid? Yes, Smartmatic was disqualified due to its personal cash laundering controversies, however there have been others. What occurred to them?)
“Is this real competition, or is the real competition in the back rooms of the halls of power? I hope not,” she added.
Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act mandates that every one public procurement be finished – with sure exceptions – by aggressive bidding.
Meanwhile, Hontiveros reiterated the allegations of election failures that Miru is going through in Iraq and Congo, including that its election machines had been even dubbed as “cheating machines” in Congo.
She likewise questioned the presence of a blacklisted building firm in Miru’s native companions within the three way partnership.
“Just what is a construction company doing leasing voting machines to the Filipino people? A construction company that appears to share principal office address of another company ….blacklisted by the Department of Public Works and Highways, as shown by this document,” she mentioned.
“Is this true? If even a blacklisted company smells something fishy, maybe that should be considered a double red flag?” she added.
Lawmakers, election watchdogs, and different teams earlier expressed concern and known as on the Comelec to remain vigilant and evaluate Miru’s observe document.
However, Miru Systems earlier mentioned the allegations of election failures as a consequence of its expertise had been false.
It was declared ineligible within the first spherical of bidding in December 2023 for its failure to fulfill the authorized necessities of the lease contract. The Comelec Special Bids and Awards Committee performed a second spherical of bidding the place Miru submitted new paperwork.
In January, Miru was deemed eligible to proceed with the bidding course of after complying with all of the authorized and monetary necessities for the undertaking.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
