Ex-Bacolod mayor seeks manual count, flags polls tech firm’s city hall ties

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Former Bacolod mayor and congressional bet Bing Leonardia alleges that polls tech firm SMS Global Technologies owns a company which bagged a P2.1-billion deal with the Bacolod city hall

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Former Bacolod mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia, now running for a congressional seat, has petitioned the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to allow a manual counting of votes for the city during the May 12 elections.

Leonardia’s petition, filed with the Comelec central office in Manila on April 25, cited conflict-of-interest concerns involving SMS Global Technologies Incorporated (SMS), the service provider for this year’s overseas online voting.

In 2024, the Comelec announced its deal with the joint venture between SMS Global and US-based Sequent Tech to deliver an online voting system for overseas Filipinos, aiming to boost voter participation among migrants.

Leonardia said corporate documents show that SMS owns Highdata Infra Corporation, a firm which secured a P2.1-billion public-private partnership (PPP) deal with Bacolod’s city government to develop e-governance systems and a centralized command center.

Leonardia’s camp raised alarm over the connection, warning that the technology firm’s involvement in both the voting system and a major city infrastructure project could compromise the election’s integrity in Bacolod.

“This is a highly questionable transaction because the City of Bacolod will use the electronic counting machines during election day, with Highdata Infra Corp./SMS [having] easy access because of their technical expertise and know-how about Comelec’s automated voting system,” said lawyer Jose Jireh Alimon, counsel for Leonardia.

Leonardia stressed that the arrangement poses “a clear and significant conflict of interest that compromises the sanctity of the ballot.”

The former mayor is in an anticipated tight race for Bacolod’s lone congressional district against outgoing Mayor Albee Benitez, whose Team Asenso slate includes incumbent councilors who approved the PPP contract between city hall and Highdata.

Alimon said they have informed the office of Bacolod elections supervisor, Revo Sorbito, about the petition filed with the Comelec central office.

Ian Lee Ananoria, Negros Occidental elections supervisor, told Rappler on Tuesday, April 29, that manual counting is not permitted under current election rules.

Alimon said they were hopeful that the Comelec will approve what he described as a “very urgent and reasonable request” to protect the “true will of the people.”

“This is merely an additional safeguard that will protect the integrity of the election results in Bacolod,” Alimon added.

If the Comelec denies the petition, the Leonardia’s camp said it was prepared to elevate the case to the Supreme Court. – Rappler.com