Poll watchdog seeks ban of Smartmatic in 2013 elections
A POLL watchdog has opposed the looming return of Smartmatic International in the 2013 midterm elections as technology partner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
In a letter sent to the Comelec Monday, the multi-sectoral organization Automated Election System Watch (AES Watch) said it would be best if the Venezuela-based firm would be totally out of the picture in next year’s exercise.
The group said Smartmatic, as the contracted technology provider in the May 2010 elections, “did not deliver the goods fully and well, and in fact disabled major security features in the system.”
It said the Smartmatic and its Filipino partner is far from proving it met the standard provision in Sec. 10 (12) of Republic Act (RA) 9369 with regard to demonstrated capability and “thus failed in meeting the mission-critical requirements for its entire claim of meeting the 99.9 percent accuracy target in the last elections.”
“The election technology provider in the May 2010 polls, Smartmatic-TIM (Total Information Management), should, therefore, no longer be an option and should be disqualified altogether from participating in the 2013 elections,” it added.
To note, the Comelec is reportedly looking to exercise its “option to purchase” agreement with Smartmatic of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines used in the 2010 polls instead of holding a new bidding for either the lease or purchase of new ones.
Smartmatic, the service provider in the 2010 polls, has not been black listed by the Comelec despite its several boo-boos in the conduct of the presidential elections.
But according to AES Watch, the option to purchase Smartmatic’s PCOS machines is no longer available as its coverage has long expired.
It added that this is aside from the fact that the previous contract is no longer being honored after the firm also informed Comelec that there will be a 20 percent price increase.
“Based on the aforesaid facts, it is clear that the Smartmatic proposal is totally different from the terms and conditions under the original Option to Purchase stipulated in the Comelec-Smartmatic-TIM Corp. Contract. As such, it is a totally new contract proposal altogether and, if accepted by Comelec, will be a clear violation of the rules on procurement which require public bidding,” the group said.
Similarly, the poll watchdog said Smartmatic should not be allowed to participate in the event that a new bidding is held and subsequently disqualified.
It said the impaired the accuracy, security, and auditability of the May 2010 elections should be a ground for disqualifying the company.
“Incidents during the last automated election show the many faults in the system, not to mention acts inconsistent with good faith by Smartmatic, for which it should be blacklisted,” said the AES Watch.
They said that only through the elimination of Smartmatic can the country move forward with the change promised by the Aquino administration.
“The Comelec should open wide its doors to all other technology providers that can comply with the highest standards of transparency, accountability and Philippine laws as well as help provide the best suitable technology system at the most affordable cost to Filipino taxpayers,” said AES Watch.
AES Watch is composed of at least 45 organizations and groups with a strong advocacy for independence, probity, and integrity especially in promoting democratic governance and against electoral fraud of all types.
Among its members are the Philippine Computer Society, National Movement for Free Elections, Transparency International-Phils, Kontra Daya, Transparentelections.org, Kaya Natin Movement for Good Governance, National Council of Churches, and Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action. (AMN/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/03/08/poll-watchdog-seeks-ban-smartmatic-2013-elections-210022
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