MANILA, Philippines - Texas Resources Corp. will be supplying indelible inks to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) despite reports its product failed initial tests and can easily be removed with a solvent.
According to the Comelec's web site, the Bids and Awards Committee has given a notice of award to Texas Resources for the supply of indelible links with at least 7% silver nitrate content.
The notice of award, issued on March 29, also states the stain should not be easily removable by solvents like ethyl alchohol, benzene, gasoline, soap, solvent, oxalic acid, 95% bleaching solvent, acetone, lacquer thinner, brake fluid, ascorbic acid, water, and kerosene.
A total of 720,000 bottles of indelible ink will be supplied for P105 each. The contract costs around P75 million, lower than the Comelec's P77 million budget for the indelible ink.
Earlier, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) coordinator Dr. Arwin Serrano said there should be a rebidding after Texas Resources' product failed a bidding test.
Serrano said a failure of bidding was declared after the ink was easily removed with the use of one of the solvents.
"Mas maganda talaga kung magkakaroon ng rebidding. Ang gusto ko nga ay certification from the DOST [Department of science and Technology] that the silver nitrate content is really in that particular level. Talaga bang 7% siya?" he told reporters last Friday.
The Comelec has said the ink passed a second test, but that it has yet to issue an award to any company.
Interviewed over the phone on Tuesday, Serrano said he was surprised to find out that a notice of award has been given.
Even Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez was shocked.
"I just found out that an award for the supply of indelible has been made a month ago. I am severely disappointed that this was not the information I had when I stated that no award had yet been made and that a rebidding was a possibility. I apologize for the miscommunication and for any inconvenience it may have caused. Rest assured that I will personally find out why this happened," Jimenez said in a text message to reporters.
Shake before use
Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer also said he doesn't know an award has been given.
However, he said that the indelible ink is of good quality. Showing one of his fingers with traces of the stain, he said that during mock elections in the Senate on March 25, Texas Resources' ink was used.
"Bumoto ako noon, tapos nandito pa," he said, referring to the stain.
"Siguro hindi nila nakita ang instructions. Shake before gamitin," he added, shaking his body in front of reporters.
Meanwhile, a notice of award has also been issued to One Time Carbon (OTC) Paper Supply on March 18 for the supply of "fingerprint takers" or stamp pads for the elections.
OTC was embroiled in controversy after the Comelec canceled its deal with the company for ballot secrecy folders. The contract price was found to be "extravagant and beyond the ordinary needs of the Commission." (Read: Supplier for botched ballot secrecy folders files appeal)
Ferrer said he sees nothing wrong with awarding the stamp pad supply contract to OTC because it is not a blacklisted bidder.
