MANILA — In a significant development, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Wednesday (29 Nov 2023) that it has disqualified Smartmatic, the voting technology company, from participating in any future procurements conducted by the poll body.
Smartmatic, which has been the provider of vote-counting machines in the Philippines since the shift to automated elections in 2010, now faces exclusion from upcoming electoral technology contracts.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia emphasized that the decision to disqualify Smartmatic was not influenced by a petition alleging irregularities in the 2022 polls.
The petition, filed by the group led by former Information and Communications Technology Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio, Jr., aimed to prevent Smartmatic from bidding for the 2025 automated election system.
“It’s not based on the allegations of Rio and company. We have to maintain the integrity of our electoral process. Para sa bayan,” Garcia stated, underlining the commitment to safeguarding the electoral system.
Smartmatic, in response, stated that it has not received official notification of the decision.
The company asserted its clean record, highlighting that it has never been indicted in the United States or any other country for any election-related contracts throughout its 23-year history.
“We urge Comelec officials to conduct this search independently and to show to the public any indictment against Smartmatic. We are confident that there is no such indictment in the United States,” the company declared.
The disqualification comes amid ongoing controversies, including the United States government seeking assistance from Comelec in a money laundering case involving former poll chief Andy Bautista.
Both Smartmatic and Garcia have vehemently denied the allegations, with the company emphasizing its consistent adherence to all of Comelec’s procurement processes during biddings and contract execution.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
GOOD NEWS for the teachers who sacrificed as poll workers during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
On Thursday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that more than 90 percent of the teachers who served as poll workers have received their intended honoraria.
In a public briefing, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco asked the unpaid electoral board members to immediately proceed to their respective local Comelec offices.
“90% plus na kasi ang nabayaran namin ng honoraria. Kayo na lang po ang natitira na less than 10%. Sana kayo’y tumungo na sa tanggapan ng local Comelec para matanggap niyo na without delay at agad-agad ang inyong honoraria,” Laudiangco said.
He added that poll workers have to personally obtain their honoraria from the Comelec since they have to sign certain payroll documents.
It was learned that the teachers who served as Chairman and electoral board members for BSKE would receive P10,000 and P9,000 of honoraria, respectively.
In the previous polls, their honoraria only got P6,000 and P5,000 for the chairman and electoral board member respectively.
Comelec chairman George Garcia earlier said that under the law, the poll body is allowed to pay the teachers within 15 days after the elections, and the BSKE was just held last October 30.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
RECEIVING COMPLAINTS THAT SOME LOCAL OFFICIALS were meddling in the recently-concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia on Sunday disclosed that those involved will be facing charges of election offenses.
Garcia said the Comelec will come up with a list of these erring government officials by Monday, November 6.
“Ako’y nagpatawag ng isang pagpupulong kung saan ipa-finalize namin ‘yung listahan na sa aming palagay ay nakialam sa ating halalan. Kinakailangan naming seryosohin ang bagay na ‘yan lalong lalo na maaaring maulit muli sa mga susunod na halalan,” the poll body chief bared in his interview with Super Radyo dzBB.
He noted that the Comelec received more than 10 complaints against local government officials interfering with the BSKE last October 30.
Garcia said these complaints should be verified and investigated before they will be brought to the attention of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
He sternly warned that those who have influenced or threatened the teachers who were forced to back out from their poll duties will be jailed.
“Hindi natin babalikan ang mga guro, hindi tayo magpapakulong ng ating mga bayani o guro. Subalit kung sino ‘yung mga nang-impluwensya o nanakot sa kanila, ‘yan ang babalikan natin. Mukhang dapat kinakailangan mapanagot natin ang mga ‘yan,” Garcia stressed. (ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
ACKNOWLEDGING THE VARIOUS THREATS to the security and lives of the teachers who backed out from their traditional poll duties, Vice President and Education Secretary (VPES) Sara Duterte on Saturday thanked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for not filing charges against them.
On Friday, November 3, the Comelec announced that it would not be filing criminal complaints against teacher-poll workers who begged off from working during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) last October 30.
The VPES thanked the Comelec “for recognizing the various threats that confronted them during this time.”
“We also stand with Comelec in its resolve to file charges against those who intimidated, harassed, and threatened our teachers,” Duterte said.
Earlier, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) said that if the teachers “withdrew because they felt an imminent threat to their life, health, and safety,” Comelec should recognize that as a valid reason.
“Such acts of violence and coercion not only jeopardized the safety and security of our educators but also undermined their dedication to service,” Duterte also noted.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia earlier admitted that they do not have a total number yet of those who backed out on election day but expressed the belief that only a few did.
(ai/mnm)
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia (with microphone) conducted a press conference Friday at the Comelec main office in Intramuros for a final update on the recently concluded barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Addressing the concerns about sporadic incidents of violence during the BSKE, Garcia emphasized that, on the whole, the recent election had transpired peacefully.
Earlier, the chairman said the canvassing and proclamation of BSKE winners in all of the 42,001 barangays nationwide were completed on Nov. 1 including all barangays in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“The only remaining unproclaimed candidates were the ones ordered suspended by the Commission and (those in) areas where the electoral board availed itself of the five-day notice rule,” said Garcia.
“No failure of the election was declared anywhere,” he added.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos also said that all 19,000 barangay captains and 17,160 youth council winners have already been proclaimed.
(Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)
By Liza Soriano
Senator Sonny Angara has called on his colleague at the Upper House for the immediate passage of Senate Bill No. (SBN) 777 which seeks to implement early voting for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Under SBN 777 that he filed, the senator emphasized the importance of giving priority to the elderly and the disabled in voting precincts as they no longer keep up with regular voters who can stand longer in queues to vote.
Angara stressed this law must be implemented before the next election comes around in 2025.
“Tayo po ay natutuwa sa naging resulta ng pilot implementation na ito ng Comelec na nagpatupad ng mas maagang pagboto sa seniors at PWDs sa dalawang pilot cities. Malinaw na sa kabila ng kanilang kalagayang pisikal, naroon ang kanilang paghahangad na makaboto, kaya’t nararapat lamang na bigyan natin sila ng pribilehiyo,” he said.
In his proposed bill, the senator said it would be better if seniors and PWDs were given two days of voting within 15 days before the actual election day.
This is to make voting more comfortable for them and safe from any harm.
“Nakalulungkot ang mga balita na marami pa rin sa mga seniors natin ang pumila ng matagal sa mga presinto at kinailangan pa umakyat ng ilang palapag para lamang bumoto,” Angara said.
(ai/mnm)
By Liezelle Soriano
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia said that persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) may still run for office if there is no final conviction yet.
Garcia made the clarification after three PDLs won in the recently-concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) 2023.
The Comelec chairperson cited the case of Aguinaldo v. Comelec in which the Supreme Court ruled that inmates have the right to vote and be voted as long as final judgment has not been made yet.
“Pinayagan natin sila makaboto sapagkat sabi po ng Korte Suprema doon sa kaso ng Aguinaldo versus Comelec at saka po [Bureau of Corrections], dahil hindi pa sila finally convicted, wala pang final judgment na sila ay guilty, therefore, meron pa silang karapatan bumoto at may karapatang maiboto. ‘Yun po ang kadahilanan kung bakit sila ay nakaboto at nakatakbo,” Garcia said in an interview with DZBB.
Garcia said PDLs are still not permitted to attend barangay halls in order to serve, even if they are permitted to seek office.
“Ngayon, paano sila magsisilbi? In the meantime, siguro naman po ay alam ng mga constituency nila na sila ay nasa kulungan… In the meantime, deprived of liberty po siya and very limited ang kaya at pwede lamang niyang gawin,” he said.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
CITING THE SACRIFICES RENDERED BY TEACHERS during the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on Tuesday reiterated its call to remove the tax from the honoraria that poll workers will be receiving for their service.
At the same time, the ACT said the teachers should be fairly compensated by granting them overtime pay.
“Isipin niyo ang mga teachers natin ay madaling araw pa mula kahapon nasa mga presinto at hanggang ngayon, hindi pa natutulog. Hindi robot at makina ang mga teachers at poll workers natin kaya kailangan ng karagdagang benepisyo. Overtime pay ang hinnihingi natin,” ACT National Capital Region (NCR) president Ruby Bernardo said at a press conference.
On Monday, October 30, Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Michael Poa said they have already touched base with Comelec to ensure that the Board of Election Inspectors will get their poll duty honoraria.
However, the ACT strongly opposed the 20% tax deduction that will be applied to the said amounts.
For his part, ACT chairperson Vladimer Quetua said that teachers who rendered service for the recently concluded BSKE should be given a P10,000 net honoraria.
“Hindi na kasi sasapat ‘yung nare-receive ng mga teachers o mga poll workers in general sa kanyang kompensasyon. Alam naman natin na kahit may extra na pagboboluntaryo na nagbabantay, pero makikita niyo na talagang teacher pa rin ang nagbabantay,” he said.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that the chairman and electoral board members for BSKE 2023 will receive P10,000 and P9,000 of honoraria, respectively.
Noticeably, this was an increase from the previous P6,000 and P5,000 granted to them.
But it’s the tax that really burden the teachers.
“‘Wag niyo nang buwisan ang mga teachers dito. Ang panawagan, dagdagan niyo pa nga itong honoraria ng teachers. Dapat minimum. Sa aming pagtatantya, dapat nga doblehin niyo,” Quetua stressed.
(ai/mnm)
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. told the newly elected barangay officials to be honest all the time as they play an important role in the community.
The Chief Executive also congratulated those who won the elections.
“Binabati ko ang lahat ng mga bago at muling nahalal na barangay at SK officials. Napakahalaga po ng inyong papel sa ating lipunan,” Marcos said in a video message.
“Maging tapat po tayo sa lahat ng oras. Lagi po nating unahin ang kapakanan ng sambayanan sapagkat sila po ang dahilan kung bakit nais nating magsilbi sa bayan,” he added.
On Monday, the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) were “successful and peaceful,” according to the President.
Despite the numerous violent occurrences that were recorded on election day at various polling places nationwide, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia said that there was no failure of election during BSKE.
“Despite the fact of our limited resources, nakakagawa sila ng mga pamamaraan upang maituloy lang ‘yong election, dahil and pangako natin, there should be no failure of election in any of the 201,786 precincts in the country, and we stood to that commitment na walang failure of election dapat,” Garcia said.
While some voting places opened later than expected due to various problems, especially security, he said that all of the 201,786 precincts nationwide operated normally during this year’s elections.
(ai/mnm)
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) revealed that a total of 19 election-related fatalities occurred in seven regions during the recently concluded 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) elections.
According to data provided by the electoral commission, these incidents of election-related violence took place between August 28 and October 31.
Among these fatalities, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) experienced the highest number, with 11 deaths, 13 incidents, and 14 individuals injured.
Two fatalities were reported in each of Regions V (Bicol) and VII (Central Visayas), while one fatality occurred in each of the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), Regions IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), IV-A (Calabarzon), and I (Ilocos).
Injured Teachers
In response to these incidents, Comelec Chairman George Garcia announced that the commission is prepared to provide hospital assistance of up to PHP200,000 to teachers who were injured while fulfilling their responsibilities as Election Boards (EBs).
“We will offer a maximum of PHP200,000 in hospital assistance to them,” Chairman Garcia stated during a press briefing.
Chairman Garcia noted that fewer than ten teachers sustained injuries, with causes ranging from snake bites and vehicular accidents to heart attacks.
Honoraria Distribution
Chairman Garcia further mentioned that the distribution of honoraria to teachers has commenced in Region 3 (Central Luzon). He assured that teachers across other parts of the country would receive their honoraria by the end of the week.
“They (teachers) will receive their honoraria by Friday, provided that the proclamations have been made,” the Chairman of the electoral commission affirmed.
(IA/mnm)
By Liezelle Soriano
The Supreme Court on Thursday reminded the Commission on Elections that the poll body cannot enforce the removal of campaign materials placed on private property.
The court declared the removal of such materials on private property by Comelec as unconstitutional.
This decision was reached in the case of St. Anthony College of Roxas City, Inc. v. Commission on Elections.
The Court clarified that Republic Act No. 9006 “only permits Comelec to regulate election propaganda owned by candidates and political parties.” It does not grant Comelec authority to regulate the political speech of private individuals on private property.
The high court confirmed that Comelec can enforce “Oplan Baklas” against candidates and political parties. However, it cannot be applied to private individuals expressing their political preferences or support for a candidate or political party.
The Court emphasized its long-standing commitment to protecting political speech, a fundamental expression guaranteed by the Constitution. Freedom of speech and expression are core civil liberties that must be safeguarded for the sake of democracy.
The en banc decision was authored by Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
FOLLOWING the withdrawal of some teachers as electoral board members for the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday disclosed that around 3,000 personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) nationwide are being trained as their substitute.
Comelec chairman George Garcia acknowledged that teachers are not required to serve as poll workers for the 2023 BSKE scheduled on October 30, considering that it is near Undas or All Saints’ Day on November 1.
“Therefore, talagang noon pa man, inaasahan natin na may mga teachers na hindi magsisilbi sa araw ng eleksyon. Hindi naman namin sila puwedeng i-obliga kung kaya’t naghanda rin kami ng mga PNP personnel na magsisilbi bilang kahalinlin o kapalit nu’ng mga electoral board members natin,” Garcia said in his interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB.
He noted that some teachers in Abra have withdrawn as poll workers because they are related to the candidates.
Earlier reports said some 2,000 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) teachers have indicated not to render barangay poll duties this coming October 30 citing security reasons.
To address this predicament, Commission on Elections (Comelec) -BARMM Director Ray Sumalipao on Thursday, October 19, bared that 2,100 police officers have trained for polling precinct duties in the upcoming BSKE.
(ai/mnm)
On Friday, October 20, 2023, marking the second day of the campaign period, several Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan candidates in Metro Manila were found to be in violation of the official memorandum issued by Comelec regarding the placement of campaign paraphernalia in designated areas.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia, along with other officials, took action by removing election paraphernalia such as posters and tarpaulins belonging to candidates running in the BSKE who had placed their materials in unauthorized poster locations along the Oroquieta and Recto areas of Metro Manila.
Photographs documenting Comelec Chairman George Garcia and other officials actively participating in the dismantling of campaign posters in various parts of Metro Manila were captured during this operation.
(Report and photography by Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)
Ni Liezelle Soriano
MAAARING umabot sa mahigit 1,000 ang disqualification cases laban sa mga kandidato sa barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), ayon kay Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia nitong Sabado.
“Sa mga susunod na araw, asahan na baka umabot pa sa mahigit 1,000 ang ipa-file ng (Comelec) task force na disqualification cases,” pahayag ni Garcia sa isang panayam sa radyo.”
Sa Lunes (Oct 02), nasa 40 pa ang ipa-file na disqualification cases,” dagdag pa niya.Sa ngayon, sinabi ni Garcia na umabot na sa 3,600 ang kanilang naisyuhan ng show cause order.
Kadalasan, ang nilalaman ng show cause order na galing sa Comelec ay humihingi ng karampatang paliwanag mula sa isang akusado kung bakit hindi siya dapat na madiskwalipika.
Ayon pa sa Comelec, nagsampa na ito ng disqualification cases noong Biyernes laban sa 35 kandidato sa BSKE dahil sa umano’y premature campaigning.”
Ang naisyuhan natin ng show cause order sa buong bansa ay almost 3,600 na… Sa 3,600, ‘yung 35 sinampahan na ng disqualification case… Hopefully makapagdesisyon bago ang BSKE sa October 30,” aniya.
By Junex Doronio
FACING 194 possible disqualification cases upon initial assessment, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday expressed confidence that the poll body can resolve these before the October 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body is set to file disqualification cases against at least 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan candidates on Friday, September 29.
“Asahan niyo [You can expect], by Monday, these will be raffled to a division and then the division will issue a summons requiring the respondents to file,” Garcia assured.
He added that the Comelec divisions will hold “summary proceedings” and they will not be required to conduct a full-blown hearing on each petition.
“Therefore, sa isang linggo, kumpleto lahat ng proseso ng submission at pwede kaming magdesisyon sa second week ng October. Almost sure ako na may desisyon bago mag October 30,” Garcia said. (ai/mnm)
Image Courtesy of Benjie Cuaresma
By Benjie Cuaresma
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have forged an agreement to vigorously pursue and prosecute individuals involved in vote-buying during the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
JOINT FORCE. Commission on Elections Chairperson George Erwin Garcia (left) and Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla show to the media the copy of their offices entered into, an agreement to go after vote-buyers in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections at the DOJ office in Manila on Monday (Sept. 25, 2023). Remulla said prosecutors nationwide will be on duty to accept complaints on Oct. 30, election day. (Photo by Benjie Cuaresma)
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that prosecutors nationwide will be on standby to receive complaints on election day, October 30.
“The fiscals will be readily available to handle potential cases,” he informed the media during the signing of the “Kontra Bigay” memorandum of agreement at the DOJ office in Manila. He emphasized the importance of having witnesses since many instances of vote-buying involve electronic wallets rather than physical cash transactions.
Remulla clarified that there is no conflict between this initiative and a recent DOJ directive to thoroughly review all charge sheets submitted to prosecutors to ensure that only complaints with a reasonable chance of conviction proceed to court. Complete and substantial sworn statements from witnesses could turn many cases into “open-and-shut” scenarios.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia expressed confidence in the effectiveness of measures such as warrantless arrests for individuals engaged in vote-buying and red-flags such as the transportation of large sums of cash and giveaways as effective deterrents.
To date, Comelec has received 23 complaints related to vote-buying. The practice of “flying voters” (voters transported to different voting areas) has diminished significantly due to the adoption of modern voter identification systems, Garcia added.
The campaign period for the BSKE is set from October 19 to 28.
Following the closure of the candidacy filing period on September 4, Comelec reported a total of 1,414,487 aspirants, comprising 96,962 candidates for punong barangay (village captain), 731,682 for members of the Sangguniang Barangay (village council), 92,774 aspirants for Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) chair, and 493,069 for Sangguniang Kabataan council positions. (ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
ANTICIPATING THE LEVELLING UP of vote buying in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has alerted electronic wallet operators to monitor ‘suspicious” high-volume transactions, especially in the days prior to election day.
At the same time, Comelec Chairman George Garcia sternly warned GCash, Maya and other companies involved in mobile payment services that they may face charges for conspiracy to commit vote buying.
“Doon sa mga panibagong pamamaraan ng vote buying, tulad ng by way of GCash or online banking, kasama po namin sa Committee on Kontra Bigay ay Anti-Money Laundering Council at Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas,” Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. earlier said in a press briefing.
He also disclosed that the Comelec is already finalizing its rules and regulations on the penalties for vote buying for the BSKE in October, which will now cover online money transfers.
The Omnibus Election Code penalizes vote buying or selling with up to six years of imprisonment, disqualification from public office, and prohibition from exercising the right to vote.
Any political party found guilty of engaging in such acts shall pay a fine of not less than ₱10,000.
Considering that Omnibus Election Code was approved in 1985 and does not cover modern schemes of bribing during elections, the Comelec sees the need to also level up the law. (ai/mnm)