MANILA - The Commission on Elections on Thursday said it will sign the P7.2 billion poll automation project with Smartmatic TIM Corp, the newly incorporated joint venture company of the winning consortium of Barbados-based Smartmatic and Filipino firm Total Information Management (TIM).

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said the contract signing will push through tomorrow.

Also on Thursday, a group led by lawyer Harry Roque said they will file a case against the winning consortium for violating the Anti-Dummy Law. The group filed a petition for certiorari, mandamus at the Supreme Court.

"Contract signing is tomorrow in spite of that (petition). The Comelec believes its process is above board, and that the law—Republic Act 9369 (Automated Election System Act of 2007)



—is very clear that during the national elections following its passage, the polls should already be fully automated," Melo said.

The poll chief welcomed the petition and added that Supreme Court is a better venue to discuss the than "anywhere else."