Former lawmaker vows to apologize if proven wrong over Comelec deal with new tech provider

MANILA, Philippines — A former lawmaker said he would apologize if his allegations against the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and its South Korean-based technology provider would be proven wrong.

Edgar Erice, the ex-Caloocan second district representative, told a press briefing on Wednesday that in any case he was not violating any law in discussing the disadvantages of the Comelec's agreement with Miru Systems Inc.

«If they prove me wrong, I will apologize, but I am confident I am right,» Erice said.

After Smartmatic, the Comelec's technology service provider in previous polls, was disqualified from the bidding for the 2025 elections amid its questionable performance, Erice sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the award of the 2025 automation system contract to Miru, claiming that Comelec Chairman George Garcia was allegedly misleading the public, highlighting that the new system was not cheaper but relatively more expensive and doubted its efficiency.

Erice invited Garcia to the press conference, but the poll official declined.

The Comelec filed a motion for reconsideration before he Supreme Court in April after ruling that it committed grave abuse of discretion «when it disqualified Smartmatic before it had submitted any bid, without any reference to the eligibility requirements prescribed by its BAC (Bids and Awards Committee)» but added that its decision did not merit the nullification of the public bidding and award which had been undertaken by the poll body.

In an interview after the high court ruling, Garcia said that the disqualification of Smartmatic was a significant step taken with a view of safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the country's elections.

«The Commission en banc's decision was indeed groundbreaking, hard, and difficult but necessary to address the issues brought up by numerous stakeholders regarding transparency, reliability, and integrity of the election procurement involving the subject party in an earlier election,» Garcia said in a statement.

He said Comelec, as an institution that champions democracy, «listened to the voice of the people above all else and took what it