MALACAÑANG on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, said President Rodrigo Duterte had nothing to do with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) bidding for the transport of election supplies and equipment.
F2 Logistics, which is owned by Davao businessman Dennis Uy, was declared as winning bidder, according to poll watchdog Kontra Daya.
“Wala pong kinalaman ang Presidente d’yan. Comelec po ‘yan,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a televised press conference.
He said the Comelec has the sole authority to conduct preparations for the elections.
Kontra Daya urged the conduct of an investigation into the transaction after Comelec said F2 Logistics offered the lowest calculated bid of P1.61 billion for the deployment of election equipment, peripherals, forms, supplies, paraphernalia and warehousing for the 2022 national elections.
The company will undergo post-qualification before the contract is officially awarded to them.
Kontra Daya convenor Danilo Arao said F2 Logistics is a subsidiary of Udenna Management and Resources Corporation, which is owned by Uy, who contributed P30 million to Duterte’s presidential bid in 2016.
“Kung ‘yung in-charge sa transportation ng election paraphernalia ay closely identified sa nakaupong pangulo nandun pa rin ang suspicion na baka may pandadayang gagawin,” Arao said in a television interview.
Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas said he ordered a panel to look into the matter.
He said, however, that being a supporter of Duterte does not disqualify a bidder. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)