Comelec contract partner withdraws, Discaya denies involvement

In October 2024, one of three local partners withdrew from a P18-billion contract awarded by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for new automated counting machines.

Pasig mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya insisted on April 11 that she is no longer affiliated with St. Timothy Construction and divested her interest in 2018, responding to allegations made by Rappler reporter Dwight de Leon.

Rappler's investigation uncovered ties between Discaya and the problematic contract, which has since escalated to the Supreme Court due to concerns over Miru's ownership percentage.

Discaya’s involvement continues to raise questions about her candidacy for the 2025 elections as she maintains that she had no role in St. Timothy's decision to join or withdraw from the joint venture with Comelec.

The situation highlights ongoing legal and ethical challenges surrounding the contract, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in election-related procurements.