Comelec ruling on petition to ban Smartmatic for 2025 polls may be out next week

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 3)— The Commision on Election (Comelec) on Friday said that its ruling on the petition to ban technology provider Smartmatic from bidding for the automated election system (AES) may be released next week.

«Sa darating na Miyerkules hopefully, meron kaming draft ng resolution and 'yun ay mape-present sa Wednesday upang 'yun ay ma-aprubahan or ma-reject ng en banc 'yung contract and resolution na 'yan,» Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in a press briefing.

[Translation: In the coming Wednesday, hopefully, we already have a drafted resolution and we will present it on Wednesday so that the en banc will either approve or reject it, the contract and resolution.]

Garcia said that both parties' concerns were clear during the hearing, therefore the decision of the Comelec en banc will be properly guided.

«Kasi nga gusto na natin magkasimulaan ang pagbubukas ng offer eh madi-desisyunan na natin ang isyu tungkol sa disqualification nung naturang company nitong Smartmatic,» he added.

[Translation: Because we want to start the opening of offers, we will be deciding on the issues for the disqualification of the Smartmatic company.]

Earlier, petitioners led by former Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio renewed calls to disqualify Smartmatic from bidding due to «serious and grave irregularities in the transmission and receipt of election returns» in the 2022 national polls.

READ:

Comelec to hear petition to disqualify Smartmatic from 2025 elections

Comelec: Opening of ballot boxes from 2022 polls to push through

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/10/20/comelec-open-2022-ballots-smartmatic.html