Comelec bans service provider from communicating with pols, parties

MANILA, Philippines — The electronic transmission service provider for the May 2025 midterm elections has been prohibited from communicating with candidates and political parties.

The contract agreement between the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the joint venture of IOne Resources and Ardent Networks for the Secure Electronic Transmission Services (SETS) project included this provision.

The IOne-Ardent joint venture won the public bidding for the SETS project amounting to P1,426,000,348.00.

“This provision covers but is not limited to the provider’s officials, agents, employees, representatives and agents,” the contract stated. 

The only exception to the prohibition is when the entity will present technical demonstrations or if authorized by Comelec.

The poll body imposed a similar prohibition on its service provider for the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit and Count (FASTrAC) project.

Comelec awarded the FASTrAC project to the joint venture of Miru Systems, Integrated Computer Systems, St. Timothy Construction Corp. and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies.

The SETS project will be used to transmit election results using telecommunication networks.

The IOne-Ardent joint venture is required to fully turn over all transmission logs related to the forthcoming polls.