02:10.2
reflected the true will of the
02:15.0
150,000 votes, and that
02:18.0
were not included because of the
02:19.6
you know, the circling of
02:22.1
the blackening of the circle
02:24.1
was not beyond the threshold.
02:26.6
So my point, Mr. Chairman,
02:29.1
also get, because you cannot
02:31.7
brush this aside, these are reports of
02:33.9
certain agencies and organizations.
02:36.5
Did you get the report of Carter
02:37.9
Center, the National Episcopal
02:39.9
Conference of Congo, and the Church of Christ?
02:42.1
We're talking about the Democratic Republic
02:44.0
of Congo. Did you get that,
02:47.7
We have such report.
02:52.0
We were aware of that
02:53.7
report because that's
02:56.1
news in the news, but
02:57.9
during bidding process,
02:59.1
it is only the EMB
03:01.2
concerned that we need the certification
03:03.2
not for the private EMBs.
03:05.8
They're ready reports from other
03:07.2
countries because it's not a
03:08.8
light matter. We are talking about
03:11.2
elections of our country. Did you
03:13.2
get the report or you did not?
03:15.0
Carter, National Episcopal Conference,
03:17.9
and Church of Christ, they were cited
03:19.2
in this report. Did you get them?
03:21.6
You did not. According to SBAC,
03:23.5
they did not get the report of that.
03:27.4
negligence, Mr. Chairman. There are
03:29.1
integrity of the elections.
03:31.6
We should have gotten this
03:33.1
because then you have to study whether this
03:35.1
Miro is really qualified
03:37.0
and did a very lousy
03:41.4
Okay, the second one, Mr. Chairman.
03:44.1
So I'd like to have this
03:45.1
submitted to the committee
03:49.1
one who said it is satisfactory.
03:53.0
an agency which conducted a field election
03:55.2
in Congo, and they will now say
03:57.0
that it is satisfactory.
03:59.1
Because they were the ones who
04:00.1
were responsible for this
04:03.4
failure of the elections
04:09.1
In Iraq, there is no certification by the
04:11.1
Electoral Committee Commission of Iraq.
04:14.3
What was stated here
04:15.4
according to common election certificate is not.
04:18.2
It is a statement,
04:19.4
Mr. Chairman, of the United Nations
04:21.5
representative in
04:25.6
not even about a watchdog for
04:27.5
elections of the United Nations.
04:33.7
United Nations assistance
04:35.5
mission for Iraq.
04:37.9
And what does it say here?
04:39.8
Not a certification, a statement
04:41.7
in a briefing of the
04:43.4
Security Council. It said that
04:47.2
political leaders publicly endorsed
04:49.6
the electoral process, including the Prime Minister
04:51.7
and the President. But some
04:53.7
other political leaders, including Vice
04:55.6
Presidents of the Republic,
04:57.5
and the Speaker of the Parliament,
04:59.1
concerned over some of the technical
05:01.4
shortfalls encountered
05:03.6
with the electronic vote
05:05.3
tabulation devices. Clearly,
05:08.1
the Speaker of the Parliament,
05:10.1
the Vice President,
05:13.2
to say that there were really
05:21.2
and resulting to the conduct
05:23.3
of the elections. This is not a certification,
05:25.9
Mr. Chairman. And then
05:29.1
UNAMI representative,
05:33.1
later on, there was a statement
05:34.7
because it's now being used to say
05:37.2
everything was in order in
05:38.9
Congo, sorry, in Iraq.
05:45.0
of December 12 from Claudio
05:49.0
Chief of UNAMI? He certified
05:53.3
does not have an electoral
05:54.6
monitoring role. So therefore,
05:57.0
this is a piece of paper.
05:59.1
We cannot in any way
06:05.0
a good implementation
06:06.9
of their automated system
06:08.6
by Miro. Next question.
06:11.7
Did you dare forget
06:12.6
because this is all in the papers?
06:15.9
Did you get the report
06:17.0
of the Alliance of Networks and
06:19.0
National Organizations
06:20.8
for Monitoring Elections?
06:23.2
Which stated that
06:24.8
70% of the voting stations experienced
06:27.1
difficulties which eventually
06:29.1
resulted to the conduct of
06:32.9
Bumalik sila sa manual, 70%.
06:35.4
Now, did you get that report?
06:37.5
To be able to, you know,
06:39.2
have this considered,
06:41.1
you not only will get one side of the issue.
06:43.8
The problem here is because
06:48.5
is saying that you are making it tailor-fit
06:53.0
That is an allegation which you should answer.
06:57.1
bidding, there is no bidding
07:00.6
One bidding is no bidding
07:02.0
because you cannot get.
07:05.8
And I see people there laughing.
07:07.6
You do not laugh for my statement,
07:09.1
Komelek, because I'm going
07:13.0
Kayo, you do not.
07:14.8
It's not a laughing matter.
07:17.3
It's a matter, Komelek,
07:19.0
of making sure that we will not have
07:20.9
the same experience of Congo
07:25.5
So, that is the point.
07:27.6
So, have you answered?
07:28.9
Because you answered in the earlier Congo,
07:30.5
you did not go into getting the statements
07:32.9
of these three organizations.
07:35.0
Now, how about the Alliance of Networks
07:37.3
and National Organizations for Monitoring
07:41.0
Iraq? Did you get also
07:44.4
Commissioner, please reply.
07:46.8
Well, Mr. Chair, to answer that question,
07:48.8
Mr. Chair, the purpose of getting
07:50.9
the certification from the EMBs
07:53.0
regarding this one is for the bidding
07:55.0
process for the single largest
07:56.7
completed contract. So, the,
07:58.8
the SLCC that they submitted,
08:00.9
the provider, the Miro,
08:02.9
is the election that was
08:04.9
held in Congo. So, that is why
08:06.8
the certification was issued
08:08.4
by the Congo. And they did not include the Iraq
08:10.8
because it's not part of their
08:15.3
Yeah, that is for the...
08:16.8
And that's the election, not the provider.
08:19.1
In other words, you should have the totality,
08:24.9
You should be able to get all these reports
08:26.9
to make an informed,
08:30.7
choice for the best interest
08:32.7
of our country. You have to get all these
08:34.7
reports to LA. Now,
08:36.7
for example, you did not. So, you will
08:38.8
you will depend on the
08:40.7
Republic of Congo or of
08:42.7
Iraq. You will depend
08:44.2
on the speech of this
08:47.9
disowned by the Vice
08:50.5
President of the United Nations.
08:53.2
They do not monitor elections.
08:55.2
So, this is the only thing that
08:56.7
made you say that there
08:58.8
are certifications. It is not.
09:00.8
It does not hold. So, therefore,
09:03.3
Mr. Chairman, we see
09:04.7
here that certainly
09:06.4
I can see that, you know,
09:08.8
they did not go into the proper
09:10.5
role of getting all information
09:12.6
to have an informed choice on whether
09:14.6
Miro can be able to give
09:16.7
a satisfactory or a very
09:18.8
good elections in
09:20.5
2025. So, Mr. Chairman, I'd just
09:22.8
like to submit this to you because
09:24.6
these are the basis for them giving to Miro
09:26.5
without going to the investigation.
09:30.8
Can we first ask the
09:32.8
Comelec to submit a
09:34.6
certified copy of the
09:36.1
of the paper submitted as
09:38.6
presented by the Honorable
09:42.8
Yes, Mr. Chair. We will submit.
09:44.1
Mr. Chair, nalimutan.
09:46.5
The list of bidders.
09:48.6
Can you, before we go to...
09:50.8
Yes, Mr. Chair. In fact, I can read it
09:52.6
right now. We have Dominion Indra
09:57.6
Consultants and Miro
09:58.6
System who bought
10:00.5
bid docs but only
10:02.5
the Miro submitted their
10:06.5
during the opening of bids.
10:12.8
Mr. Chair, dadagdag ko lang.
10:14.6
Hindi lang po sa Iraq
10:18.2
Republic of Congo nangyari yung
10:20.5
mga failure. In fact,
10:22.6
meron din, Mr. Chair, sa mga nakalap
10:28.6
, eto po, dito sa
10:34.8
Meron din pong mga report
10:45.6
Ito rin, Mr. Chair.
10:47.2
Limbawa dito sa Kyrgyzstan,
10:48.7
Miroin in Kyrgyzstan began
10:51.1
purchase process. In 2013,
10:58.5
, purchase of election technology
11:00.6
was done through an ODA
11:02.6
agreement with South Korea
11:04.3
facilitated by Aweb.
11:11.5
So, eto, Mr. Chair,
11:12.6
sinasabi dito that the
11:14.2
yung election commission dito
11:20.6
receiving cash compensation
11:22.2
for the deal. So, yung
11:26.0
This translates into millions of dollars.
11:28.5
for Miro. So, nagkaroon ba
11:30.5
kayo ng investigation?
11:33.0
Natanong nyo po ba
11:34.3
ang Miro kaugnay dyan,
11:36.1
Mr. Chair, doon sa
11:38.0
alleged na corruption
11:39.8
na pinasok ng Miro
11:41.8
with the government?
11:44.7
Kyrgyzstan yun. Tapos,
11:46.5
eto po, Mr. Chair, sa
11:47.7
democratic... Dito sa Argentina,
11:51.0
ang ilan sa mga concerns
11:54.5
yung potential security vulnerabilities.
11:58.3
modification to Argentina's
12:00.1
electoral law failed to
12:01.6
garner sufficient votes to pass the Senate.
12:04.7
Tapos, eto po, yung technology
12:06.3
in 2017, national parliamentary
12:08.3
elections, may potential
12:10.3
na may deal po with
12:13.9
13 Argentinian information security
12:18.0
two civil society groups
12:20.1
including Poder Ciudadamo,
12:23.2
the Argentinian chapter
12:24.3
of Transparency International,
12:26.8
published a statement expressing
12:28.3
concern with potential
12:32.0
and electronic voting technology
12:34.6
in general, including
12:36.1
yung potential threats
12:38.3
to ballot secrecy as well as potential
12:40.6
barriers to transparency.
12:43.4
So, tinignan din po ba
12:46.1
COMELEC, etong mga ganitong
12:48.3
report or experiences
12:51.4
the Argentina? Secrecy na ito
12:54.3
nung ballot, Mr. Chair?
12:56.4
Commissioner, please respond.
12:58.3
Well, Mr. Chair, during the bidding
13:00.2
process, during the POSCA, only those
13:02.4
which is in the GPPB
13:04.5
rules were checked by the
13:06.1
SBAC. So, yun lang po.
13:09.7
siguro, Mr. Chair,
13:12.4
we'll have to ask
13:13.9
our chairman that the Miro system should answer
13:16.3
all these questions regarding
13:18.2
those allegations. We are aware
13:20.5
of that. Mr. Chair,
13:22.8
dapat yung background noong
13:24.5
beader, tinitignan natin
13:26.7
right from the start,
13:28.3
sabi ko na yan eh, before pa kayo
13:29.7
nag-contract with
13:31.7
the Miro. So, may mga ganitong mga
13:33.7
allegations. So, nakita nyo ba yan?
13:36.1
So, parang, Mr. Chair, parang
13:37.4
binaliwala nila eh, yung mga
13:39.5
tanong natin, kaugnay
13:41.9
dito sa mga allegations ng
13:43.6
inefficiency, corruption.
13:48.4
gusto natin tanongin, Mr. Chair,
13:49.6
bakit binaliwala nila ito? Parang
13:51.8
bulag ba sila doon sa
13:54.7
ng Miro in the past
14:02.0
Commissioner, please. Yes, Mr. Chair,
14:03.8
the SBAC is aware of that, but
14:05.4
according to them, it's just a mere
14:08.9
So, they proceed with the
14:11.7
post-coup process
14:13.2
as updated by law.
14:15.1
Kasi they cannot just decide
14:16.9
mere on allegations naman, Mr. Chair.
14:19.3
So, that's how the
14:21.2
bidding process was done.
14:23.9
rest assured, Mr. Chair, that we
14:28.3
the Miro, and they have to answer
14:29.7
all those allegations, and the
14:31.7
Comelec will also, I will
14:34.0
suggest to the N-Bank that
14:35.8
the Comelec will also conduct this
14:37.5
investigation. How true are those
14:39.9
allegations? What happened in other
14:41.9
countries, Mr. Chair?
14:48.3
So, therefore, you set aside the allegations.
14:56.0
allegations of bribery.
14:58.3
In the United States.
15:01.1
Just by that reason,
15:02.9
not because of any technical difficulty.
15:05.4
In your statement,
15:07.2
you disqualified because of
15:08.8
allegations of bribery
15:10.3
in the United States.
15:13.7
And you have, therefore,
15:18.7
which has been giving
15:24.9
So, when you say about
15:26.8
allegations, you should,
15:28.3
if you disqualified
15:29.3
Spartmatic because of allegations
15:32.4
of this, then, the more
15:33.8
here there are four countries now
15:36.2
stated that there have
15:38.4
been allegations of bribery.
15:41.5
In fact, the head
15:43.5
Commission in South Korea
15:48.4
these allegations. So,
15:50.7
I mean, you should
15:54.2
due diligence from the
15:56.4
very start. You will not say,
15:58.3
ah, the back will look only at the
16:00.3
technical aspect, no? Because there are
16:02.2
these allegations already
16:03.7
being brought to you. So, that is
16:06.2
what we're saying, Mr. Chairman.
16:08.6
So, in this case,
16:10.2
we have to have, therefore,
16:12.5
this, to investigate
16:16.2
stated by these agencies.
16:18.9
And we can get this
16:20.0
particular report and go into
16:21.9
the matter because we cannot
16:23.9
at the same time just allow
16:28.3
particular provider
16:29.7
where there are questions of
16:32.0
inefficiency and corruption
16:33.6
in four countries, Mr. Chairman.
16:39.0
Mr. Chair, aside from the
16:44.4
documents, may we also
16:46.2
request, Mr. Chair, the list
16:48.8
recommendations or
16:52.1
feedback from the other stakeholders
16:53.8
that were submitted to the public.
16:55.9
From my understanding, I think,
16:58.3
Lente did not submit any comments
17:00.6
regarding the technical aspect.
17:04.2
which was a partner, or a member of
17:07.5
Evaluation Committee, did not submit
17:10.3
yet its recommendations.
17:12.6
So, may, Mr. Chair, can we request
17:14.4
copies of the recommendations?
17:18.7
We can ask Lente. They are here
17:20.4
and, of course, the DOST, I think,
17:22.5
is likewise here.
17:27.3
Good morning, Chair.
17:28.3
Good morning, Your Honors.
17:29.7
On the first day of the post-qualification
17:34.2
there was a commitment made by
17:36.1
Miro that they will submit
17:37.5
the documents attesting
17:40.0
their performance in the other countries.
17:42.4
And on this first day,
17:44.0
we also submitted a request to
17:46.1
COMELEC regarding
17:47.3
access to these documents to be submitted
17:53.8
we still continue with that
17:55.6
request that we get access
17:58.0
to these documents submitted by
17:59.8
Miro as to the certifications
18:01.3
of their performance in the other
18:03.6
countries that they provided their
18:05.8
automated electronic system.
18:18.0
COMELEC, Mr. Chair.
18:20.0
So, nandito na tayo sa situation
18:21.8
that there was, there
18:23.5
has been an award
18:24.7
despite the fact that there are
18:34.2
there are customization
18:36.6
issues that will be addressed
18:39.1
by the COMELEC as per
18:43.9
And according to the
18:45.1
good commissioner that there
18:46.9
or that you will have
18:48.7
six months, six months,
18:52.5
address those customization
18:57.3
So, Mr. Chair, may we ask when they plan
19:00.4
to have a demo here in the house?
19:03.7
As much as possible, kung pwede asap even,
19:07.6
could it be even before the notice to proceed is issued?
19:11.8
Because, again, it's not, it's not within our province to tell them when to award the notice to proceed.
19:23.0
But to have the notice to proceed,
19:27.7
without a demonstration
19:31.4
here at the house and without
19:34.7
resolution to those customization
19:41.0
provide more doubt
19:43.3
to the situation.
19:45.4
It will not help, Mr.
19:47.5
Chair. So, may we get a
19:49.2
commitment from the COMELEC
19:51.5
and hopefully from MIRO
19:56.7
And have a demonstration
19:58.9
as soon as possible, Mr. Chair.
20:00.9
The problem is under the law,
20:05.9
within 15 days from the notice of award,
20:09.2
dapat mag-NTP na sila.
20:13.1
Yun yung problema natin kung before.
20:19.0
Kasi we'll be having our
20:24.7
Kaya ang timeline,
20:26.7
lang natin hanggang next week lang po.
20:28.7
Kung yung sa demonstration.
20:30.7
We will look into it, Mr. Chair.
20:32.7
I will ask the Chairman
20:34.7
to have even the base system.
20:42.7
it's not a customization issue
20:44.7
but it's a customization based on the TOR,
20:48.7
Based on the letter of Chairman Garcia,
20:50.7
it is a customization issue.
20:54.7
you did not have the letter of Chairman Garcia.
20:55.8
That's why you did not have the letter of Chairman Garcia.
20:55.9
You did not have a demonstration today.
20:57.9
Because you want to address those issues.
21:01.9
That is correct, Mr. Chair,
21:03.9
based on customization issues.
21:05.9
Because it's just the base system.
21:07.9
So we have to customize it
21:09.9
according to the terms of reference.
21:11.9
Pwede naman po mag-demo tayo
21:13.9
using the base system
21:17.9
after the POSCUA demonstration,
21:19.9
the end-to-end demonstration.
21:21.9
And we will ask the MIRU to be present also
21:23.9
to address those issues.
21:25.9
Allegations against them.
