Group to file petition to blacklist Smartmatic

An election watchdog is again seeking the blacklisting of Smartmatic-Total Information Management (TIM) Corp. from all public biddings in connection with the May 2016 elections.

Alain Pascua, Citizens for Clean and Credible Elections (C3E) convenor, said they intend to file with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) another petition to blacklist Smartmatic.

“Smartmatic-TIM should not be allowed to participate any further, given its numerous violations, deficiencies and sins of omission,” he said.

Pascua is confident that their new petition against Smartmatic would be granted, now that a new Comelec chairman has been named.

“We are optimistic in the openness shown by the new chairman, Andres Bautista, and we hope that he finds merit in our cause,” he said.

Pascua said the disqualification of Smartmatic-TIM during the post-qualification evaluation for the new optical mark reader (OMR) machines will be used as one of the grounds in their new petition.

The Supreme Court (SC)’s voiding of the negotiated contract between the Comelec and Smarmatic-TIM for the refurbishment of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines will also be cited as grounds.

Pascua said the disqualification of Smartmatic-TIM in the bidding for 23,000 OMR units might provide the company the opportunity to correct the problem and thus increase its chances in the incoming new biddings.

“Perhaps the disqualification will give Smartmatic sufficient time to cure its corporate papers and become spotless for the next bidding,” he said.

Last year, the Comelec dismissed C3E’s petition to blacklist Smartmatic on grounds that it has no legal personality to initiate the motion.

Pascua said they intend to file the petition as soon as possible because the Comelec is already conducting parallel public bidding for the refurbishment of the PCOS machines and the lease of new OMR machines.

Smartmatic should be blacklisted to ensure transparency and credibility of the 2016 elections, he added.