Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia on Friday allayed concerns amid the poll body’s award of the multibillion-peso automated elections project to a joint venture led by South Korean firm Miru Systems Company Ltd.

The poll body announced Miru’s win on February 22, saying the joint venture was able to comply with all of Comelec's requirements.

 Under the FASTrAC or Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count, the joint venture will supply the hardware, which includes 110,000 automated counting machines, laptops, ballot boxes and ballots, the software or the Consolidation and Canvassing System, and the Election Management System.

 The three Filipino companies that make up the joint venture are Integrated Computer Systems, Inc., Saint Timothy Construction Corporation, and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies, Inc. They are the lone bidder for FASTrAC.

 With the joint venture’s bid amounting to just P17.9 billion, Comelec said it will be able to save around P800 million. 

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In a statement, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teacher’s Partylist Rep. France Castro said there is a need for due diligence and transparency in evaluating Miru, amid allegations against it.

 "It is crucial that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Congress thoroughly scrutinize the bidding process and the track record of Miru Systems before finalizing any contract for the Philippine elections. The integrity and security of our electoral process are at stake, and we cannot afford to take any risks,” Castro said.

Garcia, however, said the Comelec investigated allegations of problematic elections conducted by Miru in Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo and received certification from these countries.

 “Nagsasabi ‘yung mga pinuno po ng election management bodies na ito na naging maayos ‘yung kanilang halalan. Contrary po doon sa mga nai-report. So kung mismo ang pinuno katulad ko po ay nagsasabing maayos ‘yung halalan namin, walang naging problema at hanggang ngayon naman wala tayo nakikita naging problema doon sa bansang ‘yun, so parang medyo mali po siguro yung kumalat na balita,” Garcia explained.

 According to Garcia, they are ready to face the House of Representatives in a hearing scheduled on March 5.

 “Kakausapin natin ‘yung nanalong winning bidder na baka pupuwedeng magkaroon ng demo rin sa harap ng mga kagalang-galang na Kongresista. Sila rin mismo makita’t ma-experience nila itong bagong bagong teknolohiya,” Garcia said. “And at the same time makagpagpuna rin sila upang ang mga ‘yan ay maisama rin sa ating contract negotiation.” 

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“Tinatanggap po ng Commission on Elections ang mga ganyang klaseng duda. Hindi po ito perpekto at hindi natin sinasabing absolute ay huwag kayong magkaroon ng agam-agam. Ang sinasabi lang po natin, magandang siguro po pagkatiwalaan na lang din natin itong ginawa ng Commission on Elections,” Garcia added. 

 Now that the award has been given to the joint venture, it will undergo contract negotiation with Comelec before a Notice to Proceed is issued and election paraphernalia is made.