Comelec, Miru ink contract for 2025 automated poll system

The Commission on Elections and South Korean company Miru Systems Company Limited on Monday signed the contract for the procurement of a new automated election system (AES) for the 2025 national and local elections.

The P17.99-billion contract will cover around 110,000 machines and peripherals including ballot boxes, laptops, and other printing requirements for the 2025 elections.

Miru is joined by Integrated Computer Systems and St. Timothy Construction Corporation and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies, Inc. in the joint venture for the Comelec procurement.

The signing was led by Comelec Chairman George Garcia, Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay, and Miru President Chung Jin Bok.

In his speech, Garcia said he wants "absolute transparency" in the conduct of the 2025 polls and was assured by Miru committed to give everything related to the automated system to the Comelec.

"According to them, we will allow the public to know our source code, certain parts of our system, through Commissioner Nelson Celis...that it can be downloaded even to the Facebook account of the commission so that everybody can determine whether this system is vulnerable to any attacks or whatsoever," Garcia said.

Garcia also pointed out the need to be transparent in the customization of the at least 110,000 automated counting machines to the stakeholders not only to ensure the credibility of the elections but also to make certain that it is consistent with the Comelec's terms of reference.

"We will insist that all the suggestions of these stakeholders will be put in place as far as these machines are concerned. We honestly believe that their suggestions will result [in] a very good machine to help us in the 2025 national and local elections," he added.

According to Garcia, all the provisions under the contract proposed by the Comelec were accepted by Miru in toto.

The president of Miru assured that the company is committed to engaging in open dialogue and collaboration with Comelec to "ensure the successful completion of the upcoming election" and "ensure the successful completion of transparent election process for the Filipino people."

"As we approach the upcoming 2025 Philippine elections, we take great pride in our two decades of experience, which have provided us with invaluable insights across diverse environments...To ensure a successful election, we understand that a combination of responsibility, advanced technical expertise and experience is crucial," Chung added.

The contract signing came more than two weeks after Comelec announced that it awarded the contract to Miru, the lone bidder for the procurement. 

Lawmakers, election watchdogs, and other groups earlier expressed concern and called on the Comelec to stay vigilant and review Miru's track record.

But, Miru Systems said the allegations of election failures due to its technology were false.

It was declared ineligible in the first round of bidding in December 2023 for its failure to meet the legal requirements of the lease contract. Comelec Special Bids and Awards Committee conducted a second round of bidding where Miru submitted new documents.

In January, Miru was deemed eligible to proceed with the bidding process after complying with all the legal and financial requirements for the project.—AOL, GMA Integrated News