Manila, Philippines – Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia has vehemently denied allegations against him in what he described as a smear campaign and demolition job aimed at forcing him to resign. During an earlier press conference, Chairman Garcia presented evidence linking the attacks to Smartmatic, alleging that the campaign is being fueled by individuals and companies associated with the previous supplier of election machinery used in the last elections.

COMELEC staff, alongside Chairman Garcia, presented documents such as deposit slips, addresses, companies, and names involved in transactions directly linked to Smartmatic. These, they claim, were used to undermine the Chairman’s credibility and integrity.

Defiant in the face of these accusations, Chairman Garcia asserted that he will not resign. He argued that if all public officials, from the president down to barangay officials, were subjected to similar unfounded and malicious allegations, then no one would be able to serve.

Chairman Garcia communicated with the two banks to prove that he has no such accounts and the banks replied in his favor. They confirmed that there was no account whatsoever under the account of the Chairman.

The individuals spreading these allegations, according to the Chairman, are motivated by the fact that a different company won the bid for the election machinery to be used in the 2025 elections. They also cited numerous issues involving Smartmatic, including money laundering allegations against former COMELEC Chief Andres Bautista.  The COMELEC has already approved and awarded the contract for the 2025 election machinery to Miru Systems.