Government lawyers ask SC to dismiss petition on Comelec-Miru contract

Government lawyers requested the Supreme Court to dismiss a petition seeking the disclosure of documents related to the P18-billion contract between the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Miru Systems Co., Ltd.

The Office of the Solicitor General, led by Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra, argued that the petition should be dismissed due to lack of merit and procedural issues.

Petitioners from the Right to Know, Right Now Coalition and other groups requested Comelec and Miru Systems to disclose all information about the contract, citing constitutional rights to information on matters of public concern.

The OSG noted that while some details were not provided, petitioners had access to key documents such as the adjusted percentage of contribution and distribution among joint venture partners.

Guevarra also stated that Comelec did not abuse its discretion by considering the furnished documents sufficient compliance with transparency requirements.

Former Caloocan City congressman Edgar Erice filed a similar petition in November seeking to declare the contract null and void, which is still pending before the Supreme Court.