THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday thumbed down calls for the cancellation of its newly-signed contract with F2 Logistics Philippines for the transport of election equipment, supplies, and paraphernalia to be used in the May 2022 polls.
In a television interview, Elections spokesman James Jimenez said they do not see any valid reason, including the supposed presence of conflict of interest, to rescind the P535,999,998 contract signed last October 29.
“There will have to be a valid reason for a rescission of the contract. There would have to be some sort of violation of the terms of the contract. There would have to be some sort of violation by F2, or a change in circumstances all of a sudden, like the project is no longer necessary, I suppose a case can be made for rescission then,” Jimenez said.
“But in terms of what’s being floated now, in terms of suggestions being made, again that would not be grounds for rescission,” Jimenez stressed.
On Monday, poll watchdog Kontra Daya called for the cancellation of the P536-million contract between Comelec and F2 due to alleged conflict of interest.
F2 is a firm that has been linked to Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy, who is known for his close relationship with President Duterte.
But according to Jimenez, the poll body sees no adequate proof on the supposed conflict of interest.
“The question of conflict of interest was looked at, checked by our bids and awards committee, and it was found that there really was no grounds to say that there are conflicts of interest,” said the poll official.
He stressed that F2 offered the lowest responsive bid and legitimately won the public bidding conducted by the Comelec.
The contract tasks F2 to deploy the vote counting machines (VCM) and peripherals, consolidation/canvassing system (CCS) machines, official ballots, ballot boxes, other accountable forms and supplies, and non-accountable forms and supplies to be used in the May 2022 polls.
In a series of social media posts, Jimenez also guaranteed that it is immaterial to the conduct of elections which company will be tasked to transport the equipment and paraphernalia to be used as numerous safeguards have been put in place to ensure that these are not tampered with.
“At no point is the logistics provider able to tamper with the election outcome, either because of process safeguards, or the fact that the VCMs have practically nothing to do with the results once the results have been reported out,” said Jimenez.
After delivery, he said the voting machines will still undergo final testing and sealing before Election Day in order to ensure that the VCMs are working properly.
And if the machines still malfunction, he assured that backup VCMs will be used.
He also said that before voting starts, the VCMs will print out a zero-report proving that there are no pre-programed results in the machine’s memory.
After voting ends, he said the VCM will print out an election return hard copy, which is then certified by the electoral board and watchers.
Subsequently, the VCM will transmit election returns to the municipal canvassing system, the central server, and the transparency server.
And after transmission, Jimenez said the main memory card will be hand-carried by the electoral board to the municipal canvassing system.
Jimenez said the VCM will then be packed up and will await pick up for them to be returned to the deployment hubs.
Finally, the poll official assured that Comelec personnel will be with the service providers every step of the way.
“All this on top of the fact that the actual deliveries will be witnessed and monitored closely,” Jimenez stressed.
