Smartmatic execs may be charged for economic sabotage

Smartmatic officials may be held for economic sabotage and possibly put behind bars for an unauthorized change in script in a transparency server for the automated elections, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said yesterday.

Pimentel, chairman of the joint congressional oversight committee on the automated election, said he would ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to take custody of the Smartmatic officials and make them explain glitches in some vote counting machines and in the transmission of votes.

“All the abuses and underdeliveries should be factored in by Comelec as grounds for arresting and taking into custody the Smartmatic foreign executives,” Pimentel told The

STAR in a text message. The senator also chairs the PDP-Laban, the political party under which Rodrigo Duterte successfully ran for president.

Marlon Garcia represents Smartmatic in the Philippines as project manger. Smartmatic Philippines general manager Elie Moreno had also been involved in preparations for the May 9 elections.

Comelec commissioner Ro- wena Guanzon recommended on Friday an investigation into Smartmatic’s possible breaching of protocol when one of its executives changed the script in the transmission server being used by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

“For that they should be held liable to the Comelec, to the people,” Guanzon said.

“We will request for a formal investigation of this matter with the en banc so that we can determine if Smartmatic has financial and other liabilities under their contract,” she said.

Pimentel earlier said he would consider seeking a hold departure order ( HDO) on 20 officials of the Venezuelabased firm, which has been the technology provider in the country’s past three automated elections.

PDP-Laban spokesperson Paola Alvarez said the party’s legal team is gathering witnesses as well as more evidence against the Smartmatic officials.

“Still ongoing because new issues are coming out,” Alvarez told The STAR, referring to their investigation. “We need to verify each complaint to make sure it has basis,” she added.

The appropriate complaint against the Smartmatic executives may be ready by tomorrow or anytime this week.

Meanwhile, a special election was held yesterday in 52 precincts in Cebu, Sarangani, Marinduque, Antique, Samar, Lanao del Sur and Sulu involving 17,657 voters.

The special election was held after the Comelec declared failure of election in the areas due to security issues as well as concerns regarding the official ballots.

Amazing, historic

Despite emerging legal trouble, Smartmatic told its local employees and technicians it is now a world leader in automated elections for having the largest manufacture and deployment of VCMs.

The firm’s declaration was contained in an internal memorandum, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR. Garcia prepared the memorandum.

He called the May 9 elections “amazing” and “historic,” citing the number of VCMs used.