Comelec main office at the Palacio del Gobernador, Intramuros, Manila (PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the joint venture (JV) of SMS Global Technologies, Inc. and Sequent Tech Inc. would sign the contract for the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) project on Tuesday.
In an advisory Monday, the poll body said the signing of the contract is set at 10 a.m. at its main office in Intramuros, Manila.
It said a demonstration of the JV's internet voting system would follow immediately after the contract signing.
The OVCS will be used by overseas Filipinos to cast their votes in the May 2025 midterm polls.
Last month, the Comelec en banc awarded the project to the JV of SMS and Sequent after submitting a bid proposal of PHP112 million, much lower than the project's approved budget of PHP465.8 million.
Follow sub judice rule
Meanwhile, Comelec chairperson George Garcia reminded former Caloocan congressman Edgar Erice to refrain from commenting on the legality of the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC) contract.
In a letter to the former lawmaker, Garcia warned Erice that he may face indirect contempt charges from the Supreme Court (SC) if he continues to speak on the contract between the poll body and the JV of Miru Systems Co. Ltd., Integrated Computer Systems, St. Timothy Construction Corporation, and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies, Inc.
"The Comelec is equally mindful of its duty to abide by the sub judice rule, lest it commits acts that may constitute indirect contempt. We stand firm in our position that any further discussion about the legality or illegality of the contract between Comelec and joint venture of Miru Systems should be presented before the courts," the Comelec chief added.
Garcia declined Erice's invitation for the Comelec to join him in a scheduled media conference, noting that a petition on the matter is now pending before the high court.
Erice filed a petition against the PHP17.9 billion Comelec-Miru contract on the 2025 poll automation project before the high tribunal in April.
Last month, the SC required both parties to submit their comments on the petition. (PNA)
