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Bella Cariaso - The Philippine Star
February 14, 2025 | 12:00am
Residents fill out forms as they line up at a Commission on Elections (Comelec) satellite voter's registration at a mall in Masinag, Antipolo, Rizal on August 20, 2024.
STAR / Miguel de Guzman
MANILA, Philippines — A freedom of information advocacy group on Thursday filed a petition for certiorari and mandamus before the Supreme Court to compel the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Miru Systems Co. Ltd. to disclose updated details of the P18-billion contract after a local partner withdrew from the joint venture.
At a press conference, Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition (R2KRN) co-convenor lawyer Nepomuceno Malaluan said that the Comelec and Miru failed to act on the group’s request to explain the legality of the decision of St. Timothy Construction Corp. (STCC) to withdraw from the joint venture agreement and its impact on 60 percent Filipino ownership requirement.
On March 11, 2024 Comelec entered into an P18-billion contract with a joint venture composed of Miru, Integrated Computer Systems, Centerpoint Solutions Technologies Inc. and STCC for the 2025 automated election system.
On Oct. 4, 2024, the Comelec announced the withdrawal of the STCC from the Miru joint venture.
“We asked to Comelec and Miru to provide us an updated joint venture agreement that includes the current composition of the Miru joint venture, the detailed allocation of remaining partner’s financial, technical, and operational contributions or any applicable contributions of money, property, or industry, along with their monetary valuation and the resulting percentage interest of each remaining partner,” Malaluan said.
The group also urged the poll body and Miru to confirm whether the performance bond submitted by Miru remains valid and callable on demand despite the withdrawal of STCC, Malaluan noted.
