Comelec accepts withdrawal of Miru local partner in AES

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday announced that it has accepted the withdrawal of St. Timothy Construction Corporation (STCC), one of the three local firms in the South Korean Miru Systems-led joint venture for the automated election system for the 2025 elections.

“As such, the remaining partners of the Joint Venture must submit its NFCC (Net Financial Contracting Capacity) at least equal to the Contract Price or a committed Line of Credit from a Universal or Commercial Bank at least 10% of the Contract Price within ten (10) days from the receipt of this Resolution,” Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia told the media, reading the memorandum.

The STCC provided the Net Financial Contracting Capacity (NFCC) for the P17.99 billion contract for the new AES and automated counting machines for the 2025 polls.

Comelec said despite STCC’s withdrawal, the remaining partners are not relieved from their obligations under the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC) Contract.

The two other local firms were Integrated Computer Systems and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies, Inc.

Garcia said the Comelec has directed its law department to determine whether there is civil, criminal, or administrative liability on the part of STCC or the joint venture in general.

Garcia earlier said STCC withdrew from the joint venture after Comelec raised concern over information that some of the alleged owners of STCC expressed intent to run for local and national positions in the 2025 polls due to possible conflict of interest.—LDF, GMA Integrated News