LAWMAKERS have expressed dismay over the “extreme haste” with which the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had signed the P18-billion automated vote-counting contract with controversial firm Miru Systems Co. Ltd.
Rizal Rep. Dino Tanjuatco decried the alleged railroading of the contract signing despite mounting calls for the Comelec to investigate the controversies hounding Miru’s bid, especially its submission of a prototype machine — a practice disallowed by law.
Tanjuatco raised his reservations during an oversight hearing on Tuesday, snubbed by Comelec chairman George Garcia and Miru executives, leaving the committee members, who were looking forward to a demo of the new automated voting system to be used in the 2025 midterm elections, extremely disappointed.
“Members of this committee wanted to ask questions to Miru, the systems provider. I wonder why there is no sense of urgency for the contractor to attend this meeting. The expectation of the committee was there will be a demonstration to ensure the integrity and truthfulness of counting machines to be used in next year’s election,” said Tanjuatco, a member of the House Committee on Electoral Reforms and Suffrage.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, also a committee member, noted that not one of the 14 Miru officials invited by the committee attended Tuesday’s hearing.
Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr., chair of the suffrage committee, lamented that neither Miru nor its officials had no explanation about their absence.
Tanjuatco pointed out that the absence of the Miru executives was a disrespect to the House committee.
“We are talking about the next election, which must be transparent, truthful and with integrity. If Miru as the service provider does not provide importance to those three conditions, there’s a problem,” the Rizal solon pointed out.
Tanjuatco likewise lamented that Garcia has failed to keep his personal assurances that the contract would not be awarded to Miru any time soon, considering the many controversies that should be addressed beforehand.
He pointed to the lack of transparency in the procurement process and cautioned the Comelec of dire consequences resulting from the rushed signing of the deal.
“During the February 21 demo that I attended, I raised to chairman Garcia numerous concerns regarding the Miru machine and the procurement process. He personally assured me that the Comelec would not be awarding the contract to Miru just yet, and that there would be time to address these mounting concerns. To my utter surprise and disappointment, the Comelec awarded the contract the very next day,” Tanjuatco said.
In particular, Tanjuatco questioned the integrity of vote-counting as he personally saw that Miru’s machine read crumpled, marked and torn sample ballots during last month’s demo.
Meanwhile, Dalog voiced displeasure over the continued failure of Garcia to be present during the oversight hearings.
Dalog noted that Garcia had asked the committee to postpone the hearing twice, and even suggested rescheduling it to Tuesday, which he still did not attend, citing a busy schedule.
“Because chairman Garcia and Miru weren’t here, our concerns were not addressed,” Dalog said.
Dalog requested Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo to conduct the much-delayed demo before the committee before this week ends or next week — ahead of legislators’ Holy Week break.
During the hearing, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) defended the Comelec and Miru from criticisms of the hastily awarded contract.
On the other hand, elections watchdog Democracy Watch Philippines reiterated the red flags it had raised against the deal.
The group has been calling for transparency in the process and has repeatedly asked the Comelec to shed light on reported failures of Miru’s machines in foreign deployments as well as the numerous infirmities in its bid submission, but the group has yet to get answers from the poll body.