Foreign Country Bans Smartmatic Voting Machines To ‘Safeguard Elections’

By
Andrew Rodriguez
-
OPINION | This article contains the author's opinion.

The Philippine Commission on Elections has banned Smartmatic Philippines Inc. from future elections due to allegations of bribery involving the company and the commission chairman.

The decision was influenced by a U.S. government request for information on potential violations of American laws.

The commission expressed concerns about the integrity of the voting process and emphasized that the decision does not cast doubt on the integrity of the 2016 elections. (Trending: Tucker Reveals The Moment He Became A Full-Blown Trump Supporter)

“Although these allegations, stemming from incidents potentially spanning at least three election cycles, have not been conclusively proven, their gravity and potential to damage public trust warrant the Commission (En banc’s) proactive measures to safeguard the integrity of elections and democratic institutions,” the commission stated.

“It is noteworthy that Bautista, who served as the Chairman of the Commission, was formally charged in September 2023, in connection with allegations of receiving bribes in exchange for awarding a contract for election machines to Smartmatic Corp,” the commission wrote.

“Bautista and others are alleged to have laundered the bribe money through multiple entities. It was revealed that Bautista established a foreign shell company, which was used to receive bribe payments from Smartmatic,” the commission added.

“The charges against Smartmatic and former Chairman Bautista are of public knowledge and tend to cause speculation and distrust of the electoral process.”

“Given the gravity of allegations related to bribery and compromised procurement processes, as independently determined by foreign bodies, the Commission recognizes the imminent threat to the strength and integrity of our democratic processes.”

“In the light of these findings the Commission acknowledges the imminent peril to the integrity and robustness of our democratic institutions.”

“The allegations not only undermine and cast a shadow over the procurement protocols but also threaten to erode the public’s confidence in the electoral system.”

“The decision is on the integrity of the procurement then and not, we repeat, not, the integrity of any automated elections conducted in the Philippines, particularly that of the 2022 NLE,” said commission representative John Rex C. Laudiangco.

The commission wants the case to be reviewed for possible permanent disqualification and blacklisting from all government procurement proceedings.

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