Comelec to ask SC to reconsider decision over Smartmatic

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling that the poll body committed grave abuse of discretion when it disqualified service provider Smartmatic before it could submit any bids for the 2025 elections.

“Actually po… mag mo-motion for reconsideration tayo (we will file a motion for reconsideration),” Comelec chairperson George Garcia told Super Radyo dzBB.

Despite this move, Garcia said they partly accept the ruling as the Supreme Court made clear that it does not nullify Comelec’s contract for the vote-counting machines for the elections with South Korean firm Miru Systems.

“Lumalabas kung ano yung nangyari, valid na po lahat yan. Yung award namin wala na pong problema. Wala na pong effect, therefore, sa ating halalaan sa 2025,” he said.

(It appears that whatever happened after is valid. There’s no problem with the award we gave. And, therefore, it has no effect in our 2025 elections.)

“And at the same time, ang sinasabi lang po ng Korte Suprema, kung sakali sa mga susunod na procurement sa mga darating na panahon, dapat kasali na po sila,” he added.

(At the same time, what the Supreme Court said is that Smartmatic should be included in future procurement.)

He also stressed that the poll body’s integrity was not affected by the decision, adding that it was welcomed as it clarified the extent of Comelec’s authority.

In November 2023, the Comelec disqualified Smarmatic from all procurement of the poll body due to allegations of bribery against former Comelec chairperson Juan Andres “Andy” Bautista “in exchange for awarding a contract for election machines to Smartmatic Corp.”

Smartmatic said the disqualification was unfair as it was based on “mere news reports and unofficial, leaked documents from abroad” are “utterly and facially unacceptable in any jurisdiction, including the Philippines.”

The firm then filed a petition for certiorari with an application for the issuance of a temporary restraining order or writ of preliminary injunction (WPI) before the SC.

Meanwhile, Smartmatic representative Atty. Christian Lim previously welcomed the ruling, saying it restores justice and sends a clear message to those at the helm of Comelec. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News