HEADLINES: Comelec bans Smartmatic | Nov. 30, 2023
Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023.
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Comelec bans Smartmatic
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified and disallowed technology provider Smartmatic Philippines Inc. from participating in all its public bidding and procurement processes. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Wednesday said the decision had nothing to do with the petition filed against Smartmatic in June by former Information and Communications Technology secretary Eliseo Rio, former Comelec commissioner Augusto «Gus» Lagman, Franklin Ysaac and Leonardo Odono. Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said the decision of the en banc was related to the questionable procurement during the 2016 elections won by Smartmatic. The Comelec cited the request for official documents relative to the investigation by the United States government of former Comelec chairman Juan Andres Bautista and other individuals and entities for violation of US criminal laws. It said the request from the US government was in pursuance of the Philippine-United States Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters relative to the alleged violation of US criminal laws that include Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. The evidence requested by the US prosecutor, it said, was crucial «for tracking the flow of payments and identifying other individuals involved in the alleged scheme.»
Christmas convoy can visit other WPS islands
THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has identified eight other Philippine-occupied features in the West Philippine Sea that the civilian-led Christmas convoy can visit and where they can bring their gifts and donations to Filipino troops. Besides Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, areas where the Atin Ito! Coalition Christmas convoy can visit include Lawak, Likas, Patag, Pag-asa, Parola, Rizal and Kota. However, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela in a public briefing on Wednesday said before the group can visit these areas, it must
