THE Commission on Elections on Sunday was urged to explain the P2.2-billion vote-counting machines it acquired from Smartmatic that it used in the 2016 elections.
Rep. Sherwin Tugna, chairman of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, questioned the Comelec’s purchase of the VCMs in December 2016, or seven months after it was used in the conduct of national elections last year.
“Medyo gulat na binayaran na pala. Kumbaga, [nung nakaraang] Pasko nagbayaran kung kailan tahimik lahat,” Tugna told a radio interview.
Tugna said his panel will look into matter following the revelation of former Comelec commissioner Christian Robert Lim on the issue at a hearing conducted by Congress oversight committee on automated elections last Thursday.
“Within the course of the hearing, naitanong nung co-chairman ko na si Senator Chiz Escudero, lumabas doon sa hearing, naitanong niya kay former Comelec commissioner Lim kung binili na ba yung mga 97,000 PCOS machine ng Comelec mula sa Smartmatic?” Tugna said.
“Ito yung inupahan nung 2016 at ang sagot ay binili na daw ng Comelec, roughly yata sa halagang P2.2 billion.
Lim earlier said he signed the contract on Jan. 12, but the decision was made by the Comelec en banc on Dec. 18, 2017, after consultations with various offices, agencies and stakeholders.
Tugna said Congress. oversight committee should have at least notified lawmakers of its decision to purchase the machines.
“Walang FYI, parang ‘Uy, di ko pa pala nasabi sa ‘yo?” Tugna said.
“Agencies, they have the responsibility to the oversight committee para magreport sila. At yung pinagrereportan naman nila, hindi naman talaga technicality lang yun.”
Tugna said the oversight committee will press the Comelec to explain about the undertakings it took on the purchase of VCMs when it resumes hearing on Feb. 22.