Secrecy folder supplier still a Comelec bidder

MANILA, Philippines - The company behind an alleged anomalous contract with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the purchase of ballot secrecy folders in the May 10 elections is again seeking to supply election materials for the coming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.

Ferdinand Rafanan, Comelec legal department chief and head of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), said One Time Carbon (OTC) Paper Supply remains eligible to bid in the supplies for the forthcoming electoral exercise.

“Although there was a complaint, the company was not blacklisted and since the investigation is still ongoing, there is still a presumption of innocence,” Rafanan said while noting that OTC Paper Supply has acquired bidding documents from the poll body.

“It’s also possible (for OTC to win the bidding), if they are the lowest bidder,” Rafanan said.

OTC was supposed to supply the Comelec with P690 million worth of ballot secrecy folders to be used in the country’s first automated polls, but the contract was revoked amid reports of overpricing.

During yesterday’s Pre-Bid Conference conducted by the BAC, OTC reportedly purchased bidding documents for the election forms and election supplies to be used in the Oct. 25 polls.

Meanwhile, Rafanan disclosed that the Comelec already approved the purchase of 19 items to be used in the coming polls.

The items include marking pens, sign pens, multi-copy papers, documentary envelopes, staple wires, jumbo paper clips, manual typewriter ribbons, plastic twine, record books, fasteners, correction fluid, stapler, punchers, scissors, cutters, cutter blades, markers, cartridge toners, rubber bands, and bond paper.

Rafanan reported that the BAC asked the commission to allow the purchase of “generic” office supplies from the Department of Budget and Management so they could save at least 50 percent of the P398-million budget allocated for the supplies and forms to be used in the Oct. 25 barangay and SK polls.