Comelec probes alleged bribery involving Smartmatic, ex-poll chief in 2016 | ABS-CBN
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Comelec probes alleged bribery involving Smartmatic, ex-poll chief in 2016
Comelec probes alleged bribery involving Smartmatic, ex-poll chief in 2016
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MANILA — The Commission on Elections said Monday it is launching its own investigation into the multi-million peso bribery case involving its former voting machine provider Smartmatic and its then chief Andres "Andy" Bautista for the 2016 polls.
MANILA — The Commission on Elections said Monday it is launching its own investigation into the multi-million peso bribery case involving its former voting machine provider Smartmatic and its then chief Andres "Andy" Bautista for the 2016 polls.
A US federal grand jury in Florida indicted Bautista for allegedly taking bribes amounting to $1 million from Smartmatic, which was banned by the Comelec last year from bidding on election contracts.
A US federal grand jury in Florida indicted Bautista for allegedly taking bribes amounting to $1 million from Smartmatic, which was banned by the Comelec last year from bidding on election contracts.
An indictment means the allegations are supported by sufficient evidence but have yet to be proven in court.
An indictment means the allegations are supported by sufficient evidence but have yet to be proven in court.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia told ANC the commission would closely monitor Bautista's trial in the US, adding, "but we will also be conducting our own investigation to find out who among our people" could be involved in the alleged conspiracy in 2016.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia told ANC the commission would closely monitor Bautista's trial in the US, adding, "but we will also be conducting our own investigation to find out who among our people" could be involved in the alleged conspiracy in 2016.
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Bautista faces one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of international laundering of monetary instruments, the US Justice Department said in a statement.
Bautista faces one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of international laundering of monetary instruments, the US Justice Department said in a statement.
Bautista, who headed the Comelec from 2015 to 2017, awarded Smartmatic a $199 million contract to supply the country with 94,000 voting machines for the 2016 presidential election won by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Bautista, who headed the Comelec from 2015 to 2017, awarded Smartmatic a $199 million contract to supply the country with 94,000 voting machines for the 2016 presidential election won by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
He has denied any wrongdoing, writing on social media site X that he "did not ask for nor receive any bribe money from Smartmatic or any other entity."
He has denied any wrongdoing, writing on social media site X that he "did not ask for nor receive any bribe money from Smartmatic or any other entity."
The Comelec is investigating the alleged bribery because the basis for the alleged laundered money originated in the Philippines, Garcia said.
The Comelec is investigating the alleged bribery because the basis for the alleged laundered money originated in the Philippines, Garcia said.
"That is the reason why we do not want to be blamed, we wanted to also investigate because if indeed there was something wrong in the procurement in the bidding per se or something wrong with the tax consequence then we have to do something here," he said.
"That is the reason why we do not want to be blamed, we wanted to also investigate because if indeed there was something wrong in the procurement in the bidding per se or something wrong with the tax consequence then we have to do something here," he said.
"Because otherwise the US will be laughing at us and the US will be saying, 'We did our part already what is the Comelec now doing in order for you to be able to find out what transpired in 2016?'"
"Because otherwise the US will be laughing at us and the US will be saying, 'We did our part already what is the Comelec now doing in order for you to be able to find out what transpired in 2016?'"
— With a report from Agence France-Presse
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