The Commission on Election (Comelec) announced on Thursday, Dec. 14, the failure of bidding for the lease of Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC) project to be used in the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE).

In a press release posted on the poll body’s official Facebook page, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Lauidangco said the Comelec Special Bids and Awards Committee Automated Election System (SBAC-AES) found the sole bidder — Miru Systems Co. Ltd. — ineligible.

"[M]atapos ang masusing pagsusuri ng mga dokumento na ipinasa ng MIRU-ICS-STCC-CPSTI Joint Venture ay idineklara ito na INELIGIBLE dahil sa hindi pagsunod sa mga requirements na nakasaad sa Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) sa Republic Act No. 9184 o ang Government Procurement Reform Act," he said.

According to Laudiangco, the declaration was based on the following grounds:

1. Lack of English translation of supporting documents which is in a foreign language in the Statement of Single Largest Completed Contract (SLCC) as required by Section 23.2 of the Revised IRR [Implementing Rules and Regulations] of RA [Republic Act] No. 9184.

2. Incomplete undertaking of entering into a joint venture.

"Dulot ng ineligibility ng MIRU-ICS-STCC-CPSTI Joint Venture, pati na rin ang pagiging lone bidder nito, ay nagdeklara ang SBAC-AES ng unang failure ng competitive bidding para sa lease ng FASTrAC para sa 2025 NLE," the Comelec spokesperson said.

The poll body earlier suspended multinational company Smartmatic Philippines Inc. from participating in all of its procurement processes due to the bribery allegation it faces.

The NLE in 2025 will be an Automated Election System.