What the Smartmatic bribery case means for Philippine elections

DECODED: TECH, TRUTH, AND THREATS

By Art Samaniego

The U.S. indictment of Smartmatic executives over alleged bribes to a former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) chairman is raising serious questions about how the Philippines manages and safeguards its election automation contracts.

1. A blow to election credibility

Smartmatic has been deeply embedded in the country’s automated election system since 2010. The allegations, if proven, don’t just implicate individuals; they shake public trust in the very foundation of the country’s digital voting infrastructure.

While the bribery charges were filed abroad, the core of the scheme allegedly took place here, involving a Philippine official and local election contracts worth billions of pesos.

Former COMELEC officials and watchdog groups have long raised concerns about opaque procurement processes, foreign dependency, and weak post-audit mechanisms in election technology deals. This indictment gives those warnings new weight.

2. Possible repercussions for future bids

The case could complicate future government procurement involving Smartmatic or any of its affiliates. Although the company has denied wrongdoing, its inclusion in an ongoing foreign bribery case may prompt stricter vetting or even disqualification under local laws such as the Government Procurement Reform Act and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

If the US case results in a conviction, Smartmatic could also be blacklisted from bidding in projects that receive international funding or US oversight.

3. Pressure on COMELEC and law enforcement

COMELEC now faces renewed pressure to review past contracts, audit all payment flows, and clarify what safeguards are in place to prevent similar corruption.
Meanwhile, Philippine law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Anti-Money Laundering Council, are expected to coordinate with their US counterparts.

If Bautista is extradited or faces trial in the US, it could lead to the reopening of stalled corruption cases in Manila.

4. The bigger picture: Reforming election tech procurement

This controversy shows the urgent need for a more transparent, open, and auditable election technology framework. Watchdogs have long called for source code transparency, local capacity building, and the inclusion of independent cybersecurity audits.

The question now is not just whether Smartmatic broke the law but whether the system that allowed it to thrive needs to be rebuilt.

5. COMELEC’s next moves

As of this writing, COMELEC has yet to issue an official statement on the indictment. However, the commission may face calls to review its automation partnership and possibly suspend future dealings with some suppliers pending the outcome of the case.

What happens next could shape how Filipinos vote and how much they trust the results in the next elections.