ITFP wants heads to roll from poll modernization blunder

First posted 11:44pm (Mla time) Dec 22, 2005
By Alexander Villafania
INQ7.net

THE INFORMATION Technology Foundation of the Philippines (ITFP) is renewing its call for the resignation of Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials allegedly involved in last year’s failed poll modernization project.

The ITFP had previously supported the Supreme Court's nullification of the 2.6 billion-peso poll modernization project entered into by the Comelec with systems integrator Mega Pacific eSolutions.

In a two-page position paper acquired by INQ7.NET, the ITFP enumerated several mistakes allegedly committed by the Comelec that led to the failed implementation of election modernization. These include the questionable incorporation of Mega Pacific eleven days before the submission of bids despite the Comelec's bid requirement of at least three years of financial statements.

The ITFP also criticized the Comelec for changing the bid specification of accuracy level in the middle of evaluation of the bidding parties. In addition, the Comelec approved the contract with Mega Pacific days before the bids and awards committee came up with its report, allegedly violating procurement laws.

The group said in its position paper that the issue has been hanging for two years and yet the Comelec has continued to fail to clean house.

"The Ombudsman has yet to elevate the case to the Sandiganbayan; and Congress has yet to initiate impeachment proceedings against the commissioners. Unless these commissioners are replaced, we can forget about clean and honest elections, as well as election automation in 2007."