Pag-diskwalipika ng COMELEC sa Smartmatic sa bidding para sa 2025 Midterm Elections, mali ayon sa SC;
Smartmatic, handa na muling makiisa sa mga susunod na eleksyon sa bansa
Smartmatic, handa na muling makiisa sa mga susunod na eleksyon sa bansa
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Commission on Elections, COMELEC, is ready for the case filed by Smartmatic against them.
00:06 This is followed by the Supreme Court's decision that says that the commission's disqualification of Smartmatic from bidding is wrong.
00:16 Luisa Erizpe will explain in detail.
00:19 Even if Smartmatic is no longer included in the bidding for the 2025 National and Local Elections,
00:28 the company will be able to join the country's electoral procedures.
00:32 The Supreme Court has decided that COMELEC is wrong in suspending and disqualifying Smartmatic.
00:40 The SC said that COMELEC itself violated their own process.
00:45 It held that COMELEC committed grave abuse of discretion when it disqualified Smartmatic
00:50 before it had submitted any bids without any reference to the eligibility requirements prescribed by its Bids and Awards Committee.
00:58 The court also explained that before the suspension of COMELEC, Smartmatic should have submitted its bid first.
01:05 That's why it turns out that COMELEC is wrong in stopping the company from submitting its bid.
01:10 As of now, Smartmatic can indeed participate in the next elections,
01:16 but it is subject to, let's say, if anyone files a disqualification case against them again.
01:22 Even if the Supreme Court's decision that Smartmatic is no longer included in the bidding for the 2025 National and Local Elections,
01:30 it will not affect the signing of COMELEC's bid for the 2025 National and Local Elections by Mirror Systems Company Ltd.
01:36 to become the new fast-track system provider of the Philippines.
01:42 The Supreme Court did not grant the TRO or writ of preliminary injunction.
01:46 It held that Smartmatic did not have an actual clear and positive right for a TRO or writ of preliminary injunction
01:55 because Smartmatic was merely a prospective bidder.
01:58 The Supreme Court did not find it sufficient to nullify the public bidding or award of the contract.
02:04 For Smartmatic, the court's decision is enough to say that it went through the due process.
02:11 It is ready to reunite with them in the next elections in the country.
02:15 Meanwhile, COMELEC said that they accepted the court's decision.
02:20 Even if Smartmatic files a case against them, they are ready to face it.
02:25 Louisa Erispe for Pambansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.