Comelec withholds P90M Smartmatic fee

(UPDATE) COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan on Tuesday, April 19, told the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation that the poll body has decided to withhold a P90-million payment for the services of Smartmatic, its automated elections technology provider, whose data were allegedly breached.

Pangarungan said the Comelec will wait for the findings of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before deciding on actions regarding its contract with Smartmatic, including slapping possible sanctions against the firm for any contract violations.