Reklamo vs Smartmatic tuloy — C3E

NANINDIGAN ang isang election watchdog na solid ang mga reklamong katiwalian laban sa Smartmatic kung kaya’t hinamon nito ang Commission on Elections (Comelec) na ituloy ang pagpapa-blacklist sa kompanya na sinasabing  nanloko at lumabag sa sangkatutak na batas ukol sa halalan.

Ayon sa Citizens for Clean and Credible  Elections (C3E), hindi dapat ibinasura ng Comelec ang reklamo laban  sa Smartmatic dahil ito ay maraming legal na basehan  kabilang  na ang ebidensiya na hawak ng  isang Comelec observer  para sa 2010 elections.

Kasabay nito, binatikos din ng grupo ang Comelec dahil sa mga walang kwentang dahilan para makalusot sa reklamo ang Smartmatic.

Sinabi ni C3E  legal counsel Neil Rapatan, mayroon silang duly-recognized Comelec observer noong 2010 national elections kaya karapatan nilang magsampa ng reklamo.

“The BAC claims we had no legal standing to be able to file the blacklist complaint, and yet Engr. Hermenigildo Estrella, Jr., was actually accredited by the Comelec itself as an observer for the first automated election in 2010,” ani Rapatan.

Idinagdag ni Rapatan, “the BAC itself is empowered by the Comelec’s own guidelines for uniform blacklisting should it determine that there are any grounds for blacklisting of any company at any stage of the bidding. I think from the issues already at hand, it is clear there is enough reason to investigate Smartmatic – TIM.”

Kinuwestyon din ng C3E ang pagbasura sa kanilang reklamo dahil sa pagiging premature, sa paliwanag na ikinasa na ang procurement process nang ihain ang complaint at nailathala na ang imbitasyon para sa bidding.

“With all due respect to the BAC, to dismiss our complaint by calling it premature is a bit of a reach,” ayon kay Atty. Rapatan.

“The interested companies have already bought their bid documents at that time, and we as a group of concerned citizens decided to take action by presenting evidence against a company that we believe should not be allowed to participate again in our elections,” dagdag niya.

Kinutya rin ng grupo ang pahayag ng BAC na ang kanilang awtoridad sa pag-blacklist ay para lamang sa kasalukuyang bidding para sa 2016 elections.

“Part of the BAC’s role is to determine whether there is sufficient grounds and evidence to disqualify or blacklist a company from bidding, regardless of when the infraction happened. We hope the BAC takes charge of this important matter,” ayon kay Rapatan.

“Let us not fall into the trap of passing the blame and saying that we have no power over what happened in the past.”

Samantala, nauna nang nakipagpulong si Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz sa mga leader ng C3E sa Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines para ibahagi ang kanyang sentimyento at opinyon sa pagpapa-blacklist sa Smartmatic-TIM.

“As a registered voter, and therefore a participant to the 2016 elections, I will do my moral and natural obligation by participating as early as now by going to court to disqualify Smartmatic,” ayon sa Arsobispo.

Nakatakdang maghain si Cruz ng sariling reklamo laban sa Smartmatic batay sa Articles of Incorporation ng kompanya na isinumite sa Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) para sa kanilang joint venture sa Total Information Management (TIM) Corporation.

Sa nasabing dokumento, nakasaad na ang pangunahing layunin ng joint venture sa pagitan ng Smartmatic at TIM ay para magbigay ng serbisyo para sa automation ng 2010 national elections.

Nagsampa rin si Atty. Archibald Demata, Legal Counsel ng Indra Sistemas ng pagtutol batay sa kaparehong SEC documents sa Comelec BAC.

“Since,the purpose for which Smartmatic-TIM was formed and organized is limited, specific and restricted to the Request for Proposal and the Notice of Award issued by the COMELEC for the automation of the 2010 national and local elections in the Philippines, to allow the continued participation of Smartmatic-TIM in the 2016 national and local elections, whether on its own or as a member of any JV (joint  venture) would be to sanction an illegal or ultra vices act by Smartmatic TIM,” ayon kay Demata.