Comelec urged to look into bidding & lsquo;anomaly& rsquo;
Pivot International Inc. and Power Serve, Inc. Joint Venture has filed an administrative complaint before the Commission on Elections against the end-user, chairman and members of the special bids and awards committee and technical working group of the COMELEC for alleged conspiracy to commit irregularities when it conducted the bidding for the procurement of the Vote Counting Machines Refurbishment with Consumables intended for use in the May 2022 elections......»»
Comelec sets 2nd bidding for internet voting system
Comelec sets 2nd bidding for internet voting system.....»»
Comelec: 2 tech firms ineligible to supply internet voting
The Commission on Elections is set to hold another public bidding for internet voting as the only two bidders were both declared ineligible......»»
Comelec allocates P465M for internet voting for overseas voters, sets public bidding
Comelec allocates P465M for internet voting for overseas voters, sets public bidding.....»»
Comelec sets bidding for 2025 poll transmission system
The Commission on Elections plans to start next month the public bidding for the transmission system that will be used in the 2025 midterm elections......»»
Election watchdog warns Comelec tapping Miru could lead to 2025 midterm polls’ failure
A warning was issued by election watchdog ‘Democracy Watch‘ to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the possibility of an election failure in the 2025 midterm polls if the government awards the new electronic voting system contract to South Korean firm Miru Systems Co. Ltd. The second round of public bidding for next year’s automated […].....»»
Comelec mipadayon dayon sa bidding sa auto machine
Comelec mipadayon dayon sa bidding sa auto machine.....»»
Smartmatic to Comelec: Junk DQ plea
Technology provider Smartmatic has urged the Commission on Elections to dismiss a petition to disqualify the firm from joining the bidding process for the 2025 automated elections......»»
Comelec to open bidding for AES to more providers
The Commission on Elections intends to open to more technology providers the bidding process for the procurement of the automated election system this October......»»
Comelec sets hearing on plea vs Smartmatic
The Commission on Elections is scheduled to hold a hearing on a petition to disqualify Smartmatic Philippines from participating in the public bidding for the 2025 automated election system project......»»
Addressing vote-buying
It seems that the present Commission on Elections is not running out of ideas on how to effect reforms. It is not “sleeping on their post” as sentinels used to say. It continues to pursue changes in the electoral landscape unmindful of negative social and political headwinds. I just wrote about its speedy action of placing Malabang, Lanao del Sur under Comelec control because of the indiscriminate firing of guns on the first day of filing of certificates of candidacy. Now, it’s tackling the mother of election irregularities — vote buying and vote selling. This illegal practice is anti-democratic. It continues to be the bane of elections. It restricts one’s freedom to choose one’s leaders. That it thrives as endemic in a political milieu like the Philippines is a testament to how difficult life is for the common people. Financial need, especially for those on the margins of society, is so chronic that people are willing to sacrifice their basic freedoms to make ends meet. This is a problem almost beyond solution because of the difficulty of punishing the wrongdoers, both the buyer and seller. We have laws punishing it but prosecutors can only build a case against a suspect with the participation of at least one of the accomplices to the crime. And who would want to testify against oneself unless immunity is assured? And so, we see a mockery of the law. No one gets jailed for violating it. The proactive Comelec comes now with a bagful of measures to combat the anomaly. It has created a special group, the Committee on Kontra Bigay, to address the problem and it is helmed by a no-nonsense reformist, Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr., the namesake of a great and astute statesman who served the country in various capacities for decades. I say he is the right choice, not only because of the reputation he has built, but more so because of the weight of the name he carries which he would not want to taint with a whiff of wrongdoing. The Commission has listed a litany of prohibitive acts associated with vote-buying. It’s too long to list in this limited space. But on top of these are acts and activities “presumed” to be illegal because they lead to the commission of the crime. These include “possessing or delivery of... monies or anything of value together with sample ballots or other campaign materials... queues of registered voters for the distribution of money... and such other goods... employing the hakot system or the gathering of two or more registered voters in a specific place before election day and on election day ...prohibiting the possession... carrying of cash exceeding P500,000 along with campaign paraphernalia two days before an election and on election day... an ‘ayuda’ ban except that which is normally given to qualified individuals...” It also created the Kontra Bigay Complaint Center which will receive complaints of vote-buying. For human rights guardians, consider this: the Comelec allows “warrantless arrest wherein any law enforcement officer may, without a warrant, arrest a person when in his or her presence, the person to be arrested has committed, is committing, or is attempting to commit the election offense of vote-buying.” Wow! A case arising out of these acts is fertile ground for legal hermeneutics. Any two-bit lawyer can find a “palusot” in this scenario. It may be extremely difficult to prove all these by evidence but it’s surely a theoretical force to deter the commission of the crime. And let it not be said that the present Commission did not lift a finger to combat this perennial problem which everyone talks about but was never addressed by past commissions. For this reason, the present Commission deserves our appreciation for a bold ambitious move. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Addressing vote-buying appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec holds procurement summit today
The Commission on Elections is set to hold starting today a two-day procurement summit with the aim of enhancing its public bidding processes......»»
Sandiganbayan acquits co-accused in P46-M fertilizer anomaly
The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the charges against a private co-accused in the illegal P46.45-million fertilizer purchase of the Department of Agriculture and National Food Authority in 2003. In its 4-page resolution dated 7 July 2023 and released on Sunday, the graft court’s Sixth Division found insufficient evidence that Tomas Guibani, a representative of Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp., conspired with the principal defendants, former DA Secretary Luis Ramon Lorenzo and former NFA Administrator Arthur Yap, in negotiating the purchase of the fertilizer instead of bidding it out to suppliers, in violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Government Procurement Act. “Private individuals may be held liable for violation of Section 3 of RA (Republic Act) 3019 only if they act in conspiracy with the accused public officers. There being insufficient evidence to show the conspiracy, the Court finds that the withdrawal of the Informations is proper,” the resolution read. The Ombudsman charged the three with five counts of graft in 2018. The Supreme Court ruled in October 2022 that the constitutional right of Lorenzo and Yap for a speedy disposition of cases against them was violated. The two principal accused were subsequently acquitted of the charges. Earlier, Guibani asked for the dismissal of the cases against him as Lorenzo and Yap were both cleared of the same charges. With his acquittal, Guibani’s hold departure is now lifted and set aside. The court also ordered his bond be released, subject to the usual accounting and auditing procedure. The post Sandiganbayan acquits co-accused in P46-M fertilizer anomaly appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bidding set for P8.3 billion new Comelec office
The Commission on Elections is planning to conduct a public bidding this month for the construction of its new building in Pasay City amounting to P8.3 billion, a Comelec official announced on Wednesday......»»
Comelec says systems can thwart foreign interference
The Commission on Elections is preparing to defend its servers from attempts to hack it in the 2025 midterm polls, its chairperson announced on Wednesday......»»
Waste consciousness urged during Holy Week
A DAVAO City-based environment group urged Dabawenyos to mind their waste during Holy Week......»»
D.C.Plinado Campaign pushed
DAVAO City Councilor Bai Hundra Cassandra Dominique N. Advincula urged Dabawenyos to continue embodying the "culture of discipline", as a legacy, and to be conscious of turning it into the key for the city's growth......»»
Get kids jabbed versus pertussis, parents urged
Get kids jabbed versus pertussis, parents urged.....»»
Fisherfolk group urges gov’t to regulate fish prices amid Lent
Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas on Wednesday urged the government to address the surge in retail prices of fish during the Holy Week......»»
Public utility trike operators urged to renew franchise, warned vs overpricing
THE Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) conducted a dialogue with the different Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Associations (Todas) of Toril District to remind drivers of the provisions of the Traffic Code of the City......»»
Comelec: 3 million overseas voters eyed in 2025 polls
With internet voting, the Commission on Elections is looking to have up to three million Filipinos abroad participate in the May 2025 midterm elections......»»