SC asked to compel Comelec, Miru to disclose documents on Eleksyon 2025

Several groups and individuals on Thursday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to compel the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and automated election system provider Miru Systems to disclose documents related to the 2025 midterm polls.

The petitioners are members of the Right to Know, Right Now Coalition (R2KRN), the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), the Philippine Press Institute, journalists, and academics.

R2KRN said it requested information from Comelec and Miru following the withdrawal of one of Miru's partners.

However, it said its request for information was only partially granted by Comelec, while Miru’s responses were allegedly evasive.

Due to this, the petitioners asked the court to declare Comelec’s alleged failure to fully act on their request for information a grave abuse of discretion.

They also asked the SC to correct Comelec's alleged failure by compelling it to provide the requested information.

“By refusing or failing to provide the requested information, Comelec gravely abused its discretion and breached no less than a constitutional duty, thereby unlawfully obstructing the public’s right and ability to scrutinize a major contract of high public interest,” the petitioners said.

They also asked the SC to compel Miru to disclose the requested information.

They argued that the right to information covers private entities when they perform essential public functions.

“Miru JV has a direct and independent legal duty to disclose information necessary for transparency and accountability in the FASTrAC (Full Automation System with Transparency and Audit/Count) contract in view of the constitutional right to information,” they said.

GMA News Online sought comment from Comelec but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

A petition seeking to annul the P17.9-billion contract between Comelec and Miru is also pending before the SC, claiming that it violates the Poll Automation Law (Republic Act 9369). —VBL, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.