Poll exec optimistic of end to automation row Kristine L. Alave Philippine Daily Inquirer
July 03, 2009
MANILA, Philippines -- Commission on Elections (Comelec) legal chief Ferdinand Rafanan expressed optimism about the outcome of efforts by two squabbling poll automation suppliers of the Comelec – Smartmatic International and Total Information Management Corp. -- to resolve their differences, hours before their meeting Friday with Comelec officials.
“Something good is going to happen,” Rafanan said in an interview on radio dzMM.
He said executives of the two companies were in consultation until the wee hours of Friday.
Smartmatic and TIM, a Filipino information technology firm, were disputing over the control of disbursed funds and decision-making process.
On Monday, TIM backed out of the joint venture, threatening to derail the Comelec’s poll automation project for the 2010 national elections.
Poll chairman Jose Melo has given the two parties until this Friday to iron out their business differences.
