Comelec to blacklist folder supplier

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is considering delisting OTC Paper Supply, the company involved in the botched ballot secrecy folder deal, from transacting business with the agency.

Law department head Ferdinand Rafanan made the recommendation to blacklist the company for being involved in the anomalous P689.7-million procurement project.

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“Dapat blacklisted muna. Kasi para bang administrative determination lang naman yan. Habang meron ka ng problema na sa tingin namin liable, although hindi pa naman final, bakit natin hahayaan pa na magka-problema pa,” he said.

Rafanan headed the investigating panel that probed the botched folder project, which paved the way to the investigation and putting on preventive suspension of six election officials.

The project was allegedly overpriced, for the procurement of more than 1.8 million folders worth P380 each from the said company.

The new Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman said he will make sure that the company will not be able to use another name to be able to transact again with the poll body.

“We will ask them to submit eligibility documents. Kung walang nakakaalam dapat i-verify natin,” he said.

Rafanan, upon confirming that he was appointed to be the head of the BAC, said he will be transparent and just continue what they have started during the bidding of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS).

“Meaning we will also be transparent and we will make the bidding competitive. It will be open to the media, public, to everybody who is interested,” he explained

Meanwhile, Rafanan is leaving the fate of the Comelec officials, who were put under six month preventive suspension, to the Ombudsman or the Sandiganbayan.

“Let’s see what will happen. Our job is finished, we leave it all up to the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan,” he said.

On Wednesday, the Ombudsman has ordered to put under preventive suspension poll body Executive Director Jose Tolentino, BAC Chairman Atty. Maria Lea Alarkon, as well as BAC members Attys. Allen Francis Abaya, Maria Norina Casingal, Martin Niedo, and Antonio Santella on their involvement in the anomalous ballot secrecy folder procurement project.

Unpaid contracts

Because of the controversial deal, the Comelec has failed to pay some of its suppliers in the recently concluded elections.

Rafanan revealed that chairman Jose Melo has decided not to sign the contract until it has been reviewed by the law department.

"Yung mga kontrata na pinapa review dati ng pinapa review dito ni chairman as a consequence of the ballot secrecy folder scandal. Naging cautious sya so ayaw na nya pirmahan yung iba at pinapapunta dito para ipa-review," he told reporters. (FP/MSN/Sunnex)