Group calls on Comelec to be transparent in post-qualification evaluation of AES

A group on Tuesday urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to be more transparent in the post-qualification evaluation of the new automated election system (AES) that may be used for the 2025 National and Local Elections.

In a statement, Democracy Watch requested the poll body's Special Bids & Awards Committee (SBAC) to provide a checklist of technical specifications and conduct a thorough review of Miru's system alongside observers.

Miru is the lone bidder for the procurement project after it was able to comply with all the legal and financial requirements.

The group said the process of providing a checklist will ensure that stakeholders are adequately equipped to comprehend how all requirements are evaluated and declared compliant or non-compliant.

This, as Democracy Watch raised concerns about the "insufficient quality" of the existing live online streaming of the post-qualification proceedings. It further suggested measures such as hiring a professional broadcast crew to enhance the audio-visual clarity.

GMA News Online asked the Comelec for comment regarding the matter but it has yet to reply as of posting time. 

Comelec already started its post-qualification evaluation for the procurement of a new automated election system for the 2025 national and local elections.

Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco previously said that the poll body conducted end-to-end testing of the prototype machines of lone bidder Miru Systems Company Limited.

In December 2023, Democracy Watch had urged Comelec to review the track record of Miru as it "expressed its deep concern over the participation" of the South Korean firm due to its recent "catastrophic failures" and "questioned" projects in Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Miru has maintained that it has a proven track record in delivering its work for electoral processes.

“Throughout the years we have conducted several projects locally and abroad… and developed multiple systems internally for all types of electoral stages,” said Marcelo Daniel Magaña, Miru overseas sales representative. —Anna Felicia Bajo/ VAL, GMA Integrated News