The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is standing by its decision to award the P18-billion automated counting machine (ACM) lease contract to the lone bidder and challenged its critics to file a case in court. The contract was awarded to the joint venture of Miru Systems. Comelec Chairman Erwin Garcia said the poll body is on a tight schedule and needs at least six months to prepare the 110 ACMs it will use in the 2025 elections.
The election watchdog Democracy Watch Philippines questioned the awarding of the contract to Miru Systems, citing unaddressed concerns about the firm's technology and questionable record. Democracy Watch warned the Comelec that the South Korean vendor's proposed system is illegal and could threaten the future of Philippine elections