MANILA – The automation of the 2010 elections may not push through after the local partner of the winning consortium backed out of the joint venture project.

In an interview over the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) on Monday, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Jose Melo said “automation is now out of the question,” after Total Information Management (TIM), the local partner of Smartmatic, told him that they were no longer going into a joint venture with Smartmatic.

However, toward the end of the interview with ANC’s Tony Velasquez and Pia Hontiveros, Melo raised the possibility of Smartmatic entering into a partnership with the COMELEC for the 2010 automation project, but the contract would have to be finalized by July 10.

Melo said he would ask for a legal study on whether this was possible.

Melo said TIM was supposed to have incorporated into a joint venture company with Smartmatic as required under the Government Procurement Act.

He said the incorporation papers of the winning bidder was a requirement for the contract signing set for next week.

“I said this morning that they have to submit to us their incorporation papers by Friday. But this afternoon, later today after the press conference with them at around 2 p.m. TIM went to me and said it is withdrawing,” said Melo

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