AMID the payoff controversy surrounding the automated election system (AES) contract between the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the joint venture led by Miru Systems, a poll watchdog yesterday revived its call for the use of a hybrid system during the May 2025 national and local polls.
In a statement, Kontra Daya said the Comelec should consider the option of using a hybrid election system in next year’s elections with the P17.9 billion deal with Miru Systems now in peril.
“It is imperative to raise the fundamental problems with the automated election system and to make a strong case for the adoption of a hybrid election system instead,” said Kontra Daya.
“The possibility of reverting to a manual election system should Miru’s contract become voided should not be viewed negatively. The hybrid election system should be welcomed as an alternative to the current AES,” it added.
Under the group’s proposal, a hybrid election system shall employ a manual counting at the precinct level and an automated transmission of the results.
“The adoption of a hybrid election system is a highly feasible and desirable alternative,” said Kontra Daya.
The watchdog’s call comes after Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcolate claimed that at least P120 million have been deposited to 49 offshore bank accounts from South Korean banks with all “indications leading to a Comelec official” without giving names.
Miru Systems is a firm based in Seongnam, South Korea.
Comelec chairman George Garcia responded to Marcoleta’s allegation, saying he was the unnamed official being referred by the lawmaker but vehemently denied having offshore bank accounts.
According to Garcia, the end goal of the controversy is to discredit the Comelec-Miru contract, which is being questioned in the Supreme Court (SC) by former congressman Edgar Erice.
