NELSON CELIS
THIS question is being tossed at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) with regard to its response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to get rid of Smartmatic during his visit to Japan on May 30. Comelec, being an independent constitutional body, stated that it would review and check if there are legal grounds to ban Smartmatic. While Comelec is studying its legal basis, President Duterte reiterated his call on June 6 in Davao City at a post-Eid’l Fitr celebration: “Ang sinabi ko naman dyan sa Smartmatic, even if there is just one vote that is wasted hindi maganda ‘yan. Sabi ko maghanap kayo ng bago na walang palpak ni isang boto!”