Update: TIM and Smartmatic were able to settle their differences. The COMELEC gave them up to Friday (today) to patch up their differences and to push through with their automation contract. COMELEC automation project in view of this development will continue.
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What is going to happen now with the much expected automation of 2010 election now that the partnership between Total Information Management Corp. (TIM) and Smartmatic International has been severed due to certain differences (probably operational/policy/financial issues)? The COMELEC on the other hand has come to the scence to possibly rescue the unraveling joint venture between the two large IT companies.
For representative Teddy Casiño who earlier expressed fear for the possible disruption of the automated election and called for congressional inquiry it would be necessary for Congress to “look into how TIM entered into the picture and who brokered their joint venture with Smartmatic.”
But TIM is not all alone, during the Senate inquiry last week the COMELEC admitted that the Aboitizes (which is closely link to the First Family) is also a part of the 7.2 billion pesos automation contract; the Aboitiz Transport System’s 2GO will be responsible in the shipment of the 82,200 counting machines to be used in the 2010 elections.
In relation to this Casiño posed this question: “The question is why is TIM now asserting itself against its partner Smartmatic to the point of jeopardizing the whole automation process? I think it’s not just about the money. Perhaps TIM is deliberately sabotaging the automation because it could not get its way in controlling Smartmatic’s system for the benefit of its power backers.”
Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza who said he would file a resolution at the opening of the next congress seeking a probe separate from the Senate investigation of the TIM-Smartmatic joint sees the issue as a serious matter for Congress to investigate. “I don’t know if he (Antuñez) just wants to make easy money or another party is seeking to raise the amount,” Plaza said.
Plaza also added that by coming out with his P500-million demand, Antuñez was practically demanding that Smartmatic “buy him out or buy his silence” in the partnership; which to Casiño’s mind there are more significant issues here to raise beyond intracorporate squabble. “I don’t think they are fighting about money because both of them stand to earn a lot from the venture. I think they are fighting on who will get control of the system which ultimately is the most important aspect of the project,”Casiño said.
But COMELEC has other options: to rebid, to be in partnership with Smartmatic, and to go back to the traditional method of manual counting. And the more this scenario is giving fear to Casiño. Without automation it’s happy days for the “dagdag-bawas”—vote shaving and padding operators again. And in terms of vote shaving operation it is usually ”the highest bidder that really has the advantage,” according to Casino. But other observers have other fear in mind as well. With election automation derailed, it could also mean a suspension or no election at all by 2010. Like the other millions of Filipino voters I am praying it will not be so.
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Update: Nagkasundo na ang TIM at Smartmatic ayon sa deadline na ibinigay ng COMELEC.
Mabuti na lang nagkasundo rin ang dalawang kompanya para na rin sa pagpapatuloy ng automated election. Siguro natauhan din ang mga taong nasa likuran ng hindi nila pagkakaintindihan. Hindi pera daw ang dahilan, marahil kung sino ang dapat manguna sa operasyon ng proyekto. Kung ano man iyon ay hindi na mahalaga. Kailangan lamang ay walang hukos-pukos na mangyayari.
