After months of squabble with the  contractor, the Commission on  Elections (Comelec)  can finally take over the warehouse in Laguna that holds some 79,000-precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines.

Judge Teodoro Solis of Branch 25 of the the Regional Trial Court of Biñan, Laguna, issued a writ of possession to the poll body on Friday after Comelec filed an expropriation case against Power Serve Inc. (PSI) on December 18. The writ would be valid for seven months or until July 2013.

“Meaning we are now entitled to the takeover [of the warehouse] kahit walang kontrata
[even without contract],” Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said.

Brillantes also noted that the president of PSI already contacted him to further negotiate about the contract.

The writ of possession is just a provisional remedy, as the court will still conduct hearings on the expropriation case.

Problems with the warehouse arose after the public bidding for a new PCOS storage facility failed twice in October. Comelec’s negotiations with PSI also bogged down after the company insisted a three-year contract, while the poll body only wanted to lease the facility until June 2013.

PSI, according to Comelec, is pushing for a longer contract for a higher profit.

“We understand their business aspect, but it is public interest at stake,” the poll chief said.

The poll body already forwarded the payment for seven months worth P44.8 million to the regional trial court in Biñan.

Brillantes, meanwhile, also told reporters on Friday that the security around the warehouse’s vicinity is being heightened together with the New Year’s celebration even though it is far from the residential areas.

“Kaya nga namin pinase-secure yun, kapag pumutok yun wala na tayong PCOS . . . balik tayong lahat sa manual elections [That is why we asked them to secure the area because if it will be damaged by firecrackers, we will all go back to manual elections].”