Members of the House of Representatives warned Aug. 21 that if the attacks on the propriety of the P18-billion automated election contract of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) with Korean firm Miru Systems continue, the country may revert to the stone age of manual vote counting.
1-Rider Partylist Rep. Rodge Gutierrez said he is alarmed by the timing of those who wish to impugn irregularities on the award of the contract to Miru by Comelec, especially that the 2025 midterm elections is very near.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong shared the concerns of Gutierrez on reverting back to the manual counting of votes.
“The counting is supposed to be automated. I hope the Comelec will not see that as an option because may automated law na po talaga tayo eh and that would be a violation of the automated election law,” Adiong said.
Former Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice recently filed an anti-graft and corruption practice complaint against Comelec chair George Garcia with the Office of the Ombudsman over the P18 billion contract with Miru.
Earlier, Sagip Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta questioned Comelec’s awarding of the contract following the alleged existence of 49 offshore bank accounts that received money from South Korean banks.
Adiong said in a press release from the Office of Speaker Martin Romualdez that it is up to the courts to decide on the propriety and legality of the award.
“These are mere allegations, it’s for the court to decide. These allegations cannot stop Comelec from delivering what is prescribed…under the automated election law. I would advise the commission to really push for the automated election,” he added.
Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin agreed with the two lawmakers, saying that reverting to the manual counting of votes will taint the outcome of the midterm elections. “Why are we going to go back to stone age? We are already at this point of time that we are following what the global community is doing in terms of elections. I believe the automated election, though it is not really perfect, has many, many, many safeguards as compared (to) manual elections.” ||
