Comelec:听No grounds for cancellation of contract with F2 Logistics
THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) asserted Wednesday that there are no grounds yet to cancel their deal with a logistics provider听with ties听to听a businessmen close to President Rodrigo R. Duterte.听听听听
Comelec听Spokesperson James B. Jimenez said the poll body did not find any conflict of interest in the contract with F2 Logistics, which is linked to Dennis A. Uy, adding that the company had the lowest bid for the delivery deal.听听
鈥淭here would have to be a violation of terms of conditions of the contract. There would have to be some sort of violation by F2, or a change in circumstances all of a sudden that there is no need in the听Comelec听for the contract, I suppose a case can be made for rescission then,鈥澨齢e said in an ANC interview.听听
Poll watchdogs and critics have urged the听Comelec听to cancel their delivery contract with F2 Logistics to ensure that there is no conflict of interest with the ruling administration.听听
鈥淒o we really entrust the ballots, vote counting machines, and other election paraphernalia to Duterte鈥檚 top听billionaire crony? The Filipino people must stop this deal and protect our votes,鈥澨齭aid vice presidential candidate Walden F. Bello.听听
Mr. Uy, who is from the President鈥檚 hometown,听was听one of Mr. Duterte鈥檚 top campaign contributors听in the听2016 presidential听election, donating P30 million.听听
Mr. Jimenez also said in a tweet that the deal with the logistics provider will not affect听election results听as听procedures are in place to ensure that听vote counting machines (VCMs)听are checked听after delivery.听听
鈥淎fter delivery, VCMs undergo final testing and sealing up to three days before election day, so… we know if the VCMs are working properly,鈥澨齢e said.听听
The poll body听and听F2 Logistics signed a contract on Oct. 29 for a delivery deal worth P536 million. The听company听will听transport and store election supplies such as ballots and vote-counting machines for听the May 2022听polls.听听
The logistics firm听was also contracted听for the 2018 Sangguniang Kabataan and barangay polls and the 2019 midterm elections.听听
鈥淚 think the logistics company has experience which is the reason why it qualified. There are standards that they met,听which at least gives us an indication that there is a good chance that we have (confidence) that the contract is in very good hands,鈥澨齅r. Jimenez said.听听
DIOKNO
Meanwhile, senatorial aspirant听Jose Manuel 鈥淐hel鈥 I. Diokno听expressed confidence that an听鈥渙verwhelming鈥澨齨umber of votes for the opposition听should thwart any attempt to rig the outcome of the May elections听as concerns over Duterte-appointed commissioners arise.听听
Before the elections next year, Mr. Duterte will be appointing the replacement of the Comelec听chairman and听two听commissioners听who are due to retire and another who was not confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. The three other remaining commissioners are all Duterte appointees.听听
Mr. Diokno, however, said, the Comelec leadership could not possibly manipulate the poll outcome.听鈥淭he more overwhelming the vote is, the harder it will be to cheat,鈥澨齢e said during a recent online town hall meeting with Negros-based multi-sectoral leaders.听听
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think they will be able to tinker with the outcome of an election,鈥澨齢e听said.听鈥斕齊ussell Louis C. Ku听and听Alyssa Nicole O. Tan听
