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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Comelec defends deal with Smartmatic for 2022 elections

Comelec defends deal with Smartmatic for 2022 elections

Published May 15, 2021 12:20 pm

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has defended its deal with international company Smartmatic to provide software to be used for the general elections next year.

(COMELEC)

Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said that they "did not choose Smartmatic" to provide the automated system for the 2022 National and Local elections.

"They joined the competitive bidding. It's beyond our control kung sino mananalo (who will win). It will be the lowest calculated bid," said Casquejo.

Casquejo said that policies on public bidding were followed.

"We conducted a post qualification, and may observers naman tayo (and there were observers). We just followed what the GPBB (Government Procurement Policy Board) will give us," he said.

The Comelec has awarded to Smartmatic "the contract for the Procurement of Automated Election System (AES) Software for the Election Management System (EMS), Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) and Consolidation and Canvassing System (CCS) to be used in the 2022 National and Local Elections."

This project is worth P402 million, the Comelec said.

In 2019, President Duterte advised the poll body to "dispose of that Smartmatic and look for a new one that is free of fraud.”

Since 2010, Smartmatic has been the election technology provider of the poll body.

Related Tags

Comelec Commission on Elections (Comelec) 2022 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS
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