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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Wag lang po masabotahe': Garcia tells solons he'll resign if poll machine demo fails 

'Wag lang po masabotahe': Garcia tells solons he'll resign if poll machine demo fails 

Published Sep 4, 2024 12:19 am

At A Glance

  • Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia says he will resign in case the automated election system (AES) of Miru Systems falters during its "roadshow" schedule at the House of Representatives this November. 

Screenshot_20230911-222221_Facebook.jpgComelec Chairman George Garcia (Screenshot from Facebook Live)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia says he will resign in case the automated election system (AES) of Miru Systems falters during its "roadshow" schedule at the House of Representatives this November. 

The supremely confident Garcia made this declaration during Comelec’s budget hearing on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 3 before the House Committee on Appropriations. 

"Yes Madam chair [I will resign if the machine doesn't work], basta wag lang po masabotahe (except if there's a sabotage)," he said. 

Garcia was responding to appropriations panel Senior Vice Chairperson Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo, who issued the resignation challenge in jest. 

"Kung hindi umandar, magre-resign ka? Joke (If it doesn't work, you'll resign? Joke)" Quimbo asked Garcia earlier. 

The lady solon would later clarify: "Kami'y tiwalang tiwala po na aandar po siya kaya ko nasabi yan." 

(We're very confident that it will work, that's why I said that.) 

Before this exchange, Comelec’s 2025 budget sponsor, Surigao del Norte 1st district Rep. Francisco Jose "Bingo" Matugas asked Garcia if the poll body could run a demo of Miru Systems' wares in front of congressmen. 

"You will be doing roadshow and showcasing the electoral system. Pwede bang mag schedule dito sa House on November, pagbalik ng session?" Matugas told the poll chief. 

(Can you schedule a demonstration here in the House in November, upon the return of sessions?) 

ALSO READ: 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/3/pogi-ng-asawa-ko-cong-stella-says-2025-poll-machine-is-as-handsome-as-her-hubby-miro 

"Yes, Mr. chair by that time po tapos na yung customization namin, lahat--tapos na rin po yung tests na gagawin po natin, and pati na rin po hardware acceptance test tapos na rin. Magagawa napo natin yun Mr. Chair, November po," answered Garcia. 

(Yes, Mr. chair by that time we will have finished our customization, everything--we will have finished our tests, including our hardware acceptance test. We can do it, Mr. chair, in  November.) 

The winning contractor for the May 2025 midterm elections, South Korea' Miru Systems, plans to use a hybrid Optical Mark Reader (OMR) and Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) system. Their poll contract is worth P18 billion, the biggest in Philippine history. 

"Siguro yung integration po ng systems ipapakita po namin (Maybe we can show the integration of the systems)," Garcia said. 

The House intends to pass the P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025 before month's end. A month-long recession will follow.

Related Tags

George Garcia 2025 COMELEC RESIGN miru
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