Comelec mulls blacklisting 'sour losers' in poll automation bidding

MANILA, Philippines - Losing bidders who would continue to question the result of the bidding for next year’s automated elections may find themselves blacklisted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Chairman Jose Melo issued the warning Thursday after reports that the six unsuccessful bidders are set to come up with a manifesto citing alleged irregularities, particularly lack of transparency, in the bidding process. “If they would continue to do that then we will blacklist them so they could no longer join in our next biddings," Melo told reporters at the sidelines of the launching of socio-political networking Web site called politicalarena.com at Manila Peninsula. The Comelec has awarded the P11.3-billion poll automation contract to Netherlands-based Smartmatic Corp. and its local partner, Total Information Management (TIM). The consortium had offered the lowest bid of P7.2 billion, or P4 billion lower than the Comelec budget. Melo said that the poll body’s Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) had been transparent during the bidding process. He said that during the bidding last May 4, the bidders were allowed to check the documents submitted by rival bidders and even permitted to question their competitors. “Nandoon sila, at pinapayagan sila na magtanong at tingnan ang mga documents so anong inconsistencies dun [The bidders were there, and they were allowed to scrutinize each other’s documents. What’s inconsistent about that]?" Melo said. The poll official also said the six unsuccessful bidders are no longer in a position to issue a manifesto since they had already signed a waiver. In the terms of reference released by the Comelec prior to the bidding process, the bidders committed not to file any case against the poll body. But Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said that although a waiver had been signed, the losing bidders could use “dummies" to file petitions or question the bidding process. - GMANews.TV