Comelec urged to monitor procurement of indelible ink

MANILA, Philippines - A former lawyer of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has asked the resident ombudsman of the poll body to closely monitor the procurement of indelible ink that would be used in the May elections.

Melchor Magdamo, who was one of those who exposed the controversial ballot secrecy folder deal in 2010, sent a letter to the resident ombudsman at the Comelec to look into the Government Procurement Reform Act or Republic Act No 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

It was alleged that in the 2010 elections, the Comelec awarded the secrecy folder to One Touch Carbon (OTC).  The deal became controversial because the folder, which usually costs P3.80, went up to P380 each.

Magdamo reported that relatives of the OTC owner allegedly came up with a new company called PHILTINT & Color Specialist Inc.

He said that both OTC and PHILTINT have the same office address at no. 451 De La Cruz Street, Sta. Quiteria, Caloocan City.

“At any rate, considering PHILTINT & Color Specialist Inc.’s controversial roots traceable to the infamous OTC Paper Supply, it is wise for the Honorable Resident Ombudsman to be more vigilant in monitoring the ongoing procurement of indelible ink,” Magdamo said.

PHILTINT has been declared as having the lowest calculated bid in the P73.2-million contract for the supply of the 520,000 bottles of indelible ink and is currently undergoing post-qualification screening.