The Commission on Elections demonstrates the automated counting machines by Miru Systems to be used for the 2025 Midterm Elections at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City on June 19, 2024. The new system is said to be faster and has better features over the machines used in the previous elections. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

The Commission on Elections demonstrates the automated counting machines by Miru Systems to be used for the 2025 Midterm Elections at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City on June 19, 2024. The new system is said to be faster and has better features over the machines used in the previous elections. 

Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Demo the New Counting Machines

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span data-teams="true" id="isPasted"><span dir="ltr"></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172821649643820240619-comelec-miru-systems-MD-.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Commission on Elections demonstrates the automated counting machines by Miru Systems to be used for the 2025 Midterm Elections at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City on June 19, 2024. The new system is said to be faster and has better features over the machines used in the previous elections. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Commission on Elections demonstrates the automated counting machines by Miru Systems to be used for the 2025 Midterm Elections at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City on June 19, 2024. The new system is said to be faster and has better features over the machines used in the previous elections. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Sunday guaranteed that the integrity of the 2025 elections is “safe,” despite the withdrawal of one of its contractors months before the midterm polls. </p><p>The withdrawal of St. Timothy Construction Corporation (STCC) from its joint venture with Miru Systems does not affect the integrity of the 2025 elections as its participation in the deal is “purely financial,” COMELEC Chairman George Garcia said. </p><p>“Siya lang ang in charge sa NFCC. Kumbaga, siya yung guarantee na may pera sila, may pampondo sila sa gagamitin na raw materials,” he said in a press conference. </p><p>“One hundred percent alam namin na wala silang participation or whatsoever,” he said, referring to the procurement and configuration of the automated counting machines that will be used for the midterm elections. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/5/comelec-no-untoward-incident-reported-so-far-in-coc-filing-2127" id="isPasted">Comelec: No untoward incident reported so far in COC filing </a> </div><p>“Sapat na yung nangyari [na withdrawal] sa part namin. As far as we are concerned, safe yung integrity ng elections,” he said. </p><p>STCC earlier withdrew its participation from the P18-billion joint venture after the COMELEC flagged a possible conflict of interest after it received reports that the construction firm may be linked to a business owner who intends to run for mayor in Pasig City. </p><p>“Sapat na sa part namin na nagwithdraw sila… At least bago mangyari ang lahat, nag withdraw sila sa kontrata or sa joint venture,” Garcia said. </p><p>The COMELEC en banc is in the process of reviewing its terms of reference and contract with STCC, Garcia said, noting that the poll body is checking if there are “possible criminal and civil liabilities,” he said. </p><p>Under existing Comelec regulations, there is no provision penalizing contractors from withdrawing from its deal with Comelec ahead of the actual elections, Garcia said. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/4/comelec-chief-joint-venture-with-miru-systems-will-push-through-2045" id="isPasted">Comelec chief: Joint venture with Miru Systems will push through</a></div><p>“Ang penalty lang ay kapag nagkaroon ng delay sa delivery sa milestone na yun,” he said. </p><p>“Pero may provision sa civil code na in case of any violation to the contract… puwede maging liable for interest,” he added.  </p><p>The Comelec is updating its regulations to ensure that the loophole is addressed for future election activities, he said. </p><p>“Pinag-aaralan namin na makapagsama ng probisyon na kapag kakontrata namin ay bawal sumali sa pagtakbo whether national or local elections,” he said. </p><p>Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto — who is expected to compete with the aspirant linked to STCC — earlier urged the public to remain vigilant despite the construction firm’s withdrawal from the joint venture. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/4/comelec-reviews-possible-liabilities-of-st-timothy-construction-2043" id="isPasted">Comelec reviews possible liabilities of St. Timothy Construction </a> </div><p>“They were part of the contract from the beginning mula procurement hanggang bidding hanggang kung kailan man sila nag-withdraw,” Sotto said in an earlier interview. </p><p>“Even behind the scenes mga tao nila pinagmamalaki na hawak nila yung kontrata na yan ng Comelec,” the Mayor alleged. </p><p>“Honestly, kaya ko ito binabanggit, kaya ko ito sinasapubliko because this is a matter of national importance,” he said. </p><p>While confident that the 2025 elections will remain credible, the Comelec chief supported Sotto’s call for vigilance, saying that the public must always keep a close eye on elections even if there are no issues involving poll contractors. </p><p>“Nag withdraw man o hindi dapat ang mga mamamayan ay masidhi ang pagbabantay sa ating proseso,” Garcia said. “Dapat ituloy pa din yung pagbabantay.”</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/90Lnc7yyPxA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div></div>

<p>The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Sunday guaranteed that the integrity of the 2025 elections is “safe,” despite the withdrawal of one of its contractors months before the midterm polls.</p>

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Sunday guaranteed that the integrity of the 2025 elections is “safe,” despite the withdrawal of one of its contractors months before the midterm polls.

Integrity of 2025 polls ‘safe’ despite withdrawal of firm from Miru joint venture: COMELEC | ABS-CBN

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Integrity of 2025 polls ‘safe’ despite withdrawal of firm from Miru joint venture: COMELEC

Integrity of 2025 polls ‘safe’ despite withdrawal of firm from Miru joint venture: COMELEC

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 06, 2024 08:09 PM PHT

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