Members of the Commission on Elections En Banc hold a press briefing on the disqualification of Smartmatic Philippines from participating in poll body projects bidding at the Comelec Central Office in Manila on November 30, 2023. | PHOTO: Noy Morcoso /聽黑料社
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Smartmatic Philippines Inc. has raised the Commission on Elections鈥� (Comelec) ruling, disqualifying it from participation in procurement biddings, to the Supreme Court.
Smartmatic鈥檚 lawyer Atty. Christian Robert Lim told 黑料社 on Monday that the company has filed a petition before the high court to challenge Comelec鈥檚 decision.
鈥淵es we filed a petition,鈥� Lim said.
Petition expected, says Comelec
Meanwhile, Comelec chair George Garcia told reporters that the petition filed by Smartmatic is an 鈥渆xpected鈥� development.
鈥淭his is expected. The Comelec is willing and ready to defend its position,鈥� said Garcia.
鈥淎t the end of the day, the SC has the final say on the matter,鈥� he added.
READ: Smartmatic disqualified to preserve integrity of electoral process 鈥� Comelec
This developed after the Comelec on November 29, 2023 disqualified Smartmatic from bidding on all of its procurement processes.
READ: Comelec defends disqualification of Smartmatic
The decision stemmed from a petition seeking to disqualify Smartmatic from taking part in the bidding for the poll system to be used in the 2025 national elections filed before Comelec.
But instead of the petitioners鈥� allegations against the voting systems provider, Comelec cited the money-laundering and bribery charges against former poll body chief Andres Bautista as the reason for Smartmatic鈥檚 disqualification.