Miru System local partner pulls out – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines —  One of the local partners of election technology provider Miru System has withdrawn from the joint venture, citing conflict of interest as some of its owners have plans to run in the 2025 midterm polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced yesterday.

At a press conference yesterday, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said that the poll body received a copy of the letter of withdrawal from St. Timothy Construction Corp. (STCC).

According to  Garcia, the commission immediately referred to its Law Department the matter of STCC’s withdrawal for proper action and to look into the obligations of the remaining partners.

Garcia noted that STCC only provided the Net Financial Contracting Capacity (NFCC), a credit line, and is not involved in the technical aspect of the venture.

STCC is one of the four companies in the joint venture under Miru Systems that will supply the automated counting machines and other peripherals to be used for the May 2025 elections.

Before STCC’s withdrawal, Garcia said, the commission received information that some of its officials intend to run in the coming elections for a local post in Pasig City and for party-list elections.

“The Commission immediately conveyed its sentiment to the joint venture that we will not allow the integrity of the elections to be questioned simply because one of its owners would run in the 2025 elections,” Garcia disclosed.

He said the commission gave the particular partner the option to withdraw from the venture  or disqualify the candidates “in the interest of clean and honest elections.”

The commission, Garcia said, sees no problem with STCC’s withdrawal, saying it even gave the poll body relief from possibly dealing with complications involving the company.

“As of today, they delivered 50 percent of the machines and 100 percent of all the peripherals. More or less they have complied with their milestones,” he noted.

“At this point, we are not concerned because their compliance are more than enough to show their dedication and capability to fulfill their commitments in its contract,” he added.

He further noted that the Comelec would likely require the remaining partners under the