The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced today that members of the poll body's Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) will be sequestered to an undisclosed location from the day all bids are opened until the awarding of the contract so as to ensure integrity and transparency in the poll automation procurement process.

The SBAC is set to open Monday all bids for the P11.2 billion contract for the 2010 poll automation project.

COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez said that the decision to purposely keep its SBAC from public view proves that the COMELEC is dead serious in shielding its people from any wrongdoing with regard to the automation project.

The COMELEC's SBAC, according to Jimenez, is composed of COMELEC Law Department Director Atty. Ferdinand T. Rafanan as Chairman; Atty. Adolfo A. Ibañez as Vice Chairman and Members Atty. Ray D. Doma, Atty. Divina E. Blas-Perez and Aida B. Fernandez.

Meanwhile, Jimenez also announced that the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday assured the COMELEC en banc of their intent to help the poll body monitor and ensure transparency in the poll automation procurement contract.

The COMELEC spokesman said Ombudsman Merceditas N. Gutierrez created "Task Force Poll Automation" on April 22, 2009 which was mandated to assist the COMELEC in observing the entire bidding process up to the awarding of the contract. The task force will also help in monitoring the overall implementation of the poll automation project, Jimenez added.

The Ombudsman task force is headed by Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando C. Casimiro, as Chairman and Assistant Ombudsman Evelyn A. Baliton and Acting Director Rafael G. Hipolito as Vice Chairmen. ###