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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider SC orders Comelec, Miru Systems to answer petition on disclosure of documents on P18-B contract for 2025 elections

SC orders Comelec, Miru Systems to answer petition on disclosure of documents on P18-B contract for 2025 elections

Published Feb 18, 2025 09:29 am

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the automated election system (AES) provider Miru Systems Co. Ltd. were required by the Supreme Court (SC) to comment on the petition that sought the disclosure of documents related to the P18 billion contract for the conduct of the 2025 midterm elections.       

The SC’s directive was made public by SC Spokesperson lawyer Camille Sue Mae L. Ting during a press briefing on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Ting said both the Comelec and Miru Systems were given a non-extendible period of 10 days to submit their comments. 

The SC, during its full court session, acted on the petition by members of the Right to Know, Right Now Coalition (R2KRN), the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), the Philippine Press Institute, journalists, and academics.       

The petitioners asked the SC to compel Comelec and Miru to act on their request for information with regard to the P18 billion contract due to the withdrawal of the latter’s local partner, St. Timothy Construction Corp. (STCC), from the joint venture agreement and its impact on the 60 percent Filipino ownership requirement.       

Specifically, the petitioners wanted the Comelec and Miru to provide an updated joint venture agreement that includes the current composition of the Miru joint venture, the detailed allocation of remaining partner’s financial, technical, and operational contributions or any applicable contributions of money, property, or industry, along with their monetary valuation and the resulting percentage interest of each remaining partner.       

At the same time, the petitioners asked the SC to compel the Comelec and Miru Systems to confirm whether the performance bond submitted by the firm remains valid and callable on demand despite the withdrawal of STCC.   

They justified their petition on the people’s constitutional right to information on matters of public concern.   

Last November, former Caloocan City congressman Edgar Erice filed a petition before the SC seeking the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and to eventually declare null and void the contract between the Comelec and Miru Systems after withdrawal of  STCC.       

 Erice alleged that STCC’s withdrawal would compromise the conduct of the 2025 elections and has rendered the award of the contract to Miru Systems null and void.           

On March 11, 2024, the Comelec entered into a P18-billion contract with the joint venture composed of Miru, Integrated Computer Systems, Centerpoint Solutions Technologies Inc. and STCC for the 2025 automated election system.   

Later in November 2024, the Comelec disclosed that STCC had decided to withdraw from the joint venture.

Erice had also filed a petition to stop the Comelec from enforcing its contract with Miru Systems on the ground that the contract allegedly violated the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7369 or the Automated Election Law, particularly on bidding procedures and the use of prototype machines during the election process.                 

His two petitions are still pending resolution by the SC.

 

 

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