Let’s protect our votes!

“I saw 2019. If the people won’t move to revoke this agreement, then there is no point even campaigning. The CSOs need to intervene with this one. If this is allowed, then the election is done. We saw what happened in 2019. This is such a dangerous thing if allowed to push through. Ambot (I don’t know) why there’s not much urgency to address this. I really don’t understand.”

The messages had one urgent, almost frantic, message.

Let the CSOs (and the Filipino people) stand up and demand that Comelec revoke the reported “P1.61 billion pesos ($32.3 million) contract to transport equipment and ballots for the 2022 elections awarded to F2 Logistics Inc., a freight and cargo firm.”

According to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, the contract involves, among others, “the transport of vote-counting machines, external batteries and accessories, ballots and transmission equipment.”

More specifically, the following are also included for transport; consolidation and canvassing system machines, official ballots, ballot boxes, and election day computerized voters' lists and more.

Comelec explained that F2 Logistics Inc. was awarded the contract for having submitted the lowest bid. The contract was signed by Comelec and F2 Logistics Inc. last October 29.

Critics and poll watchdogs questioned and objected to Comelec’s decision to award the deal to a company headed by Davao tycoon Dennis Uy, a confirmed ally and 2016 election political contributor of Duterte.

Kontra Daya, an anti-cheating poll watchdog warned this “could compromise the integrity of next year’s elections.”

Shouldn’t Comelec have included, aside from submission of the lowest bid, other significant criteria for awarding the contract? As examples, did Comelec include and scrutinize the track record of the company related to electoral-related work and/or the independence of the company from any possible political affiliation that may influence the performance and delivery of the terms stipulated in the contract?

Or informed by the ongoing Pharmally investigation, has Comelec checked as well the tax payment performance or the debt situation of the bidding companies? Has Comelec also closely scrutinized the composition of the officers and trustees of the bidding companies and their business, tax, debt information?

Also, shouldn’t Comelec be more transparent to the public and show the credentials and information of F2 Logistics Inc. and all other bidding companies?

Better still, shouldn’t the Filipino people unite together and loudly demand more transparency from the Comelec regarding their very politically-sensitive decision about this electoral-related contract?

Why was it not clear to the Comelec officials, from the very start, that any contract should be awarded on the basis of what is ethically, not just legally, correct?

Did the Comelec forget that their principal role is to ensure, safeguard, and protect the sanctity of the ballot? That any decision of theirs should guarantee, without doubt, the integrity and transparency of the electoral process? That their decision should favor the nation, the Filipino people and should always afford equal opportunities to all candidates and political parties?

Should not every Filipino committed to the sacredness and sanctity of every person’s vote protest and demand now, immediately, for Comelec to be transparent, or better still, to revoke the October 29 contract to ensure, without doubt, the integrity of the electoral process?

Otherwise, then, these words may be prophetic:

“If the people won’t move to revoke this agreement, then there is no point even campaigning. If the contract is allowed, then the election is done. We saw what happened in 2019. This is such a dangerous thing if allowed to push through.”

Not only were there real problems with the ballots of voters and the machines at the polling places in 2019. Remember the yet unexplained 7-hour glitch?

Unite now to ensure electoral integrity!